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Parental allowance is a state subsidy and compensates for a lack of income when parents stay at home after the birth of their child and look after their child.

Parental allowance is a family benefit for parents during the first 14 months after the birth of a child. It is primarily an income replacement benefit intended to compensate for the loss of income that a parent suffers due to the interruption or restriction of their employment as a result of the birth of a child. The higher the income before the birth, the higher the parental allowance can be. It is paid up to 1,800 euros per month. If you have other children who also live in the same household, a supplement to your parental allowance may be granted as a "sibling bonus" or, in the case of twins, as a "multiple child supplement", depending on the conditions.

Basic parental allowance

Parents can receive 14 months of basic parental allowance after the birth of their child (twelve months plus two partner months, which the family also receives if both parents claim parental allowance), which they can divide freely between them. The basic parental allowance is generally 65% of the average net income of the last twelve months before the birth, with a minimum of 300 euros and a maximum of 1,800 euros.

Parental allowance plus

Parental Allowance Plus is intended to provide better financial security for parents working part-time after the birth of a child. Parents can swap one month of basic parental allowance for two months of Parental Allowance Plus. This gives them up to 24 months of Parental Allowance Plus. Due to the longer period of entitlement, parents receive a maximum of half of the basic parental allowance each month, provided they are not working while receiving parental allowance. Parents who wish to work part-time in particular can generally make better use of their parental allowance budget with Parental Allowance Plus. Parental Allowance Plus amounts to at least 150 euros and a maximum of 900 euros.

Partnership bonus

The partnership bonus is an offer for parents who want to share their family and work responsibilities as partners. Parents can each receive up to four additional months of Parental Allowance Plus as a partnership bonus if they work between 24 and 32 hours per week part-time during this period. While parents previously had to take this for four months at a time, it can now be taken for between two and four months, with flexible withdrawal and short-term extensions.

Application form

• Birth certificate or birth certificate of the child
• Proof of income, tax assessment notices, profit statements
• Certificate of receipt of maternity benefit
• Certificate of employer's allowance
• Confirmation of working hours in the event of employment while receiving parental allowance

Depending on your individual situation, further documents may be required. You will find further information in the application documents.

You can receive parental allowance if you meet the following requirements:

• You look after and bring up your child yourself,
• You have a place of residence in Germany or usually stay here,
• You live with your child in a shared household,
• You are either not employed at all or do not usually work more than 32 hours per week,
• There are several exceptions to the limit of 32 hours per week, for example if you are on vacation or if you are studying or training.
• Your taxable income does not exceed EUR 250,000. For parents, the limit is usually EUR 300,000.

There are no costs.

Once the application has been submitted, the completeness of the file is checked. Subsequently, further clarification of the facts or issuance of the administrative act.

You can obtain information from the relevant parental allowance office.

The application should be submitted within the first three months of your child's life. This is because parental allowance is paid retroactively for a maximum of three months.

The federal states are responsible for enforcing the Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act (BEEG). In the event of complaints regarding parental allowance matters that the parental allowance office cannot resolve, citizens can contact the supervisory authority of the respective federal state directly.

• Objection

An appeal against the decision can be lodged within one month of notification. If you are resident abroad, the deadline is three months. The objection must be lodged in writing or for the record with the above-mentioned State Office for Social Affairs.

• Legal action before the social court