Taxes & family · Germany

Elterngeld in Germany: plan the first months

Elterngeld can replace part of the earnings you lose while caring for your child. Check eligibility first, then coordinate the benefit months, work and application.

Fabian BeiningFinanz2Go · English finance guide

Sources checked: 26 October 2026

Standard monthly range · Before supplements€300–€1,800

Basiselterngeld for eligible parents. The actual amount depends on the benefit calculation and other payments.

Life monthsCount from the child’s birth date

Apply earlyBack payment is limited

Start with these three checks.

Confirm eligibility

Residence, permitted work, working hours and the income limit all matter.

Plan in life months

Elterngeld uses the child’s life months, not ordinary calendar months.

Separate benefit and leave

Applying for Elterngeld does not notify your employer of Elternzeit.

Elterngeld, Elternzeit and Kindergeld are different

Elterngeld is a parental benefit. It supports eligible parents who care for a child after birth, including some parents who had no earlier earnings. Elternzeit is parental leave from employment, arranged with the employer. Kindergeld is a separate child benefit with a separate application. [1]

Plan the three processes together, but do not assume one application completes the others. Our Kindergeld guide explains that benefit and its application route.

Who can receive Elterngeld in 2026?

The core conditions include caring for the child yourself, sharing a household with the child, living in Germany and normally working no more than 32 hours per week on average over the relevant life month. [14] Additional rules apply to international families and special situations. [2]

For births from 1 April 2025, entitlement is excluded if the relevant taxable income in the calendar year before birth exceeds €175,000. For couples and separated parents the relevant incomes are added together; for qualifying single parents it is their own income. This is taxable income, not gross salary. [3]

For example, for a birth in 2026, the income-limit check normally looks at taxable income in 2025. That check is separate from the income period used to calculate the benefit amount. Ask the Elterngeldstelle which documents establish each figure.

What should international parents check?

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals can generally qualify when living or working in Germany, subject to the other conditions. For other nationalities, the residence document and right to work matter. A settlement permit or EU Blue Card can be relevant, while other permits have additional conditions. Do not infer eligibility from an Anmeldung alone. [4]

Show the competent office the exact residence status and both parents’ living and working arrangements. Cross-border cases need an individual check; this page does not decide which country pays first.

Foreign earnings also need checking separately: the federal portal states that earnings are generally considered for this calculation when taxed in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. Other foreign earnings do not automatically establish a higher earnings-related amount, although eligible parents may still qualify for the minimum. [1]

How much Elterngeld can you receive?

Variant	Standard monthly range	Main distinction
Basiselterngeld	€300–€1,800	Normally replaces a share of eligible lost earnings.
ElterngeldPlus	€150–€900	Extends the possible payment period; the amount depends on income and the cap.
Partnerschaftsbonus	Calculated like ElterngeldPlus	Additional months require the specific working-hours conditions.

Basiselterngeld normally replaces 65% of the relevant lost net earnings; lower-income cases can receive a higher replacement percentage. The office calculates an Elterngeld-Netto, which can differ from the net figure on a payslip. [13] Sibling or multiple-birth supplements can increase the standard limits. [5]

Without post-birth earnings, ElterngeldPlus is generally half the corresponding Basiselterngeld amount over twice the period. With part-time earnings, that simple “half” rule does not always describe the result. [5]

Use the official calculation for your circumstances. Do not multiply your payslip net by 65% and treat it as an award. Benefit offsets, income periods and the Elterngeld-specific deductions can change the result. The official Elterngeld calculator and planner provides a non-binding estimate.

Which earlier income is used?

For an employed birth parent, the normal reference period is the twelve calendar months before the month in which maternity protection begins. For the other employed parent, it is normally the twelve calendar months before the birth month. Certain months can be excluded under the rules. [6]

Self-employed and mixed-income cases follow different reference-period rules; a small side business can matter. Do not choose twelve payslips by convenience or use the income-limit year as if it were automatically the benefit-calculation period. Tell the office about all relevant employment and self-employment.

Count the child’s life months before choosing dates

If a child is born on 7 June, life month 1 runs from 7 June to 6 July; life month 2 runs from 7 July to 6 August. These periods drive the benefit plan. [7]

Life month 1

7 June → 6 July

Life month 2

7 July → 6 August

Life month 3

7 August → 6 September

Under the standard rules, a parent can usually use up to twelve Basiselterngeld months. Qualifying partner months can bring the shared allocation to fourteen; a parent claiming Elterngeld must normally claim at least two months. Single-parent and special-case rules can differ. One Basis month can be exchanged for two Plus months. [7]

Basiselterngeld is generally available within the first fourteen life months. After that, Plus or bonus months follow continuation rules and must be planned carefully; unused months cannot simply be taken at any later time. [7]

Coordinate both parents’ plan and maternity benefits

For births from 1 April 2024, simultaneous Basiselterngeld is generally limited to one life month within the first twelve. Exceptions include specified premature-birth, multiple-birth and disability situations. Longer overlap may be possible when at least one parent receives ElterngeldPlus. [3]

Months with maternity benefits for the same child count as Basiselterngeld months for the birth parent, and those benefits are credited against Elterngeld. They are not an extra untouched block of months to add before the plan. [8]

The Partnerschaftsbonus can provide two, three or four consecutive additional Plus months per parent when its conditions are met, including both parents normally working between 24 and 32 hours per week during those months. Qualifying single parents can use the bonus under their applicable rules. [9]

How to apply and what to prepare

Apply after the birth to the Elterngeldstelle responsible for the child’s residence, using the applicable state form or digital route. Submit promptly: payment is limited to a maximum of three life months retrospectively. A later application can therefore lose earlier payments. [10]

Typical evidence includes the birth certificate, relevant income records, maternity-benefit and employer-payment certificates, and information about work and income during the benefit period. Residence and family circumstances may require additional evidence. Use the local office’s complete document list. [10]

Application preparation checklist

For your own preparation. Ticks stay in this page only and reset when it reloads; no information is sent.

0 of 6 preparation steps checked

Confirm the residence and employment eligibility for each parent.Check the taxable-income limit for the relevant birth date.Mark the child’s life months and maternity-benefit periods.Compare benefit variants and planned working hours.Collect the income and birth documents required by the local office.Submit promptly after birth and keep the confirmation.

This checklist records preparation only. Completing it does not confirm eligibility, submit an application or calculate an award. Keep a copy of what you file and report changes that affect the application.

Remember the tax return and employer notification

Elterngeld is tax-free itself but is subject to progression: it can increase the tax rate on other taxable income. Include it where required in your tax return and check the filing obligation. For employees, more than €410 of relevant progression income or benefits is one statutory filing trigger. [1] [11]

Separately notify your employer of Elternzeit within the applicable notice period. The usual period is seven weeks before leave before the third birthday, or thirteen weeks for leave from the third birthday until before the eighth birthday. Check the required form for the child’s birth date and any special case. [12]

The tax-return guide and household budget planner help connect the benefit plan with the rest of the year.

Considering a small job during parental leave? The minijob guide explains employment and payroll rules. Check the separate effect of any work and income with your Elterngeld office before changing your plan.

Common questions

Can I get Elterngeld if I did not work before the birth?

Potentially yes: eligible parents can receive the minimum. The residence, working-hours and other entitlement conditions still apply.

Is ElterngeldPlus always exactly half of Basiselterngeld?

No. With no post-birth earnings, that is generally the relationship. With part-time income, the calculation and cap can produce a different relationship.

Can both parents simply take two Basis months together?

Under the standard rules for births from April 2024, simultaneous Basis receipt is generally limited to one life month in the first twelve. Check exceptions and combinations with Plus.

Does applying for Elterngeld start my parental leave?

No. The benefit application goes to the Elterngeldstelle; Elternzeit notification goes to your employer. Coordinate the dates separately.

Sources and scope

Checked on 26 October 2026, focusing on births in 2026 under the rules for births from 1 April 2025. General information, not an eligibility decision or benefit calculation. The Elterngeldstelle determines the individual entitlement, reference period, offsets and payment. Special rules for adoption, prematurity, disability and cross-border families need individual checking.

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