For questions about Elterngeld (German parental allowance), ElterngeldPlus, Partnerschaftsbonus, Elternzeit, Mutterschutz or Mutterschaftsgeld, in English or German: who qualifies, what counts as income, working part-time or a Minijob, months and splitting, permits, taxes, insurance, documents, deadlines, special cases. Returns verified Elterngeld Help texts (review date, legal basis, link) together with the wording of the relevant BEEG paragraphs (primary source, current version), and says plainly when nothing verified covers it. Does not calculate amounts, deadlines or month plans.
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eligibility/who-is-eligible: Who is eligible for Elterngeld?. The 4 basic requirements: live in Germany, live with your child, care for them yourself, and work max 32h/week.
eligibility/foreigners: Can foreigners get Elterngeld?. Short answer: Yes, most expats qualify. Your visa type is what matters. Find out if yours works.
eligibility/blue-card: Blue Card holders. An EU Blue Card meets the additional residence-status requirement; the general Elterngeld conditions still apply.
eligibility/residence-permit: Which visa types qualify?. Full list of residence permits that qualify, and which ones don't.
eligibility/income-limits: Income limit: €175,000. Earn over €175k as a couple? Here's what that means for your Elterngeld eligibility.
types/overview: The three types explained. Basis vs Plus vs Bonus: what's the difference and which one gets you more money?
types/basiselterngeld: Basiselterngeld. The 'classic' option: 65% of your salary, up to €1,800/month, for up to 14 months.
types/elterngeld-plus: ElterngeldPlus. Half the monthly amount but twice as long. Often the smarter choice if you plan to work part-time.
types/partnerschaftsbonus: Partnerschaftsbonus. 2-4 extra months when both parents work 24-32 hours. The reward for sharing childcare equally.
types/comparison: Which type is best for me?. Side-by-side comparison to help you find the strategy that maximizes your benefits.
calculation/how-calculated: How Elterngeld is calculated. It's based on your last 12 months of income. Here's exactly how the math works.
calculation/replacement-rate: Why some people get 67%. Lower income = higher percentage. If you earned under €1,200/month, you get more than 65%.
calculation/minimum-maximum: Minimum & maximum amounts. €300 minimum (even with no income) to €1,800 maximum. Here's where you'll land.
calculation/sibling-bonus: Geschwisterbonus. Have other young kids? You get 10% extra (at least €75/month) on top of your Elterngeld.
calculation/twins-bonus: Twins & multiples. Having twins or more? You get €300 extra per additional child, every month.
calculation/assessment-period: Assessment period: Which months count?. Your Elterngeld is based on income from a specific period. Find out exactly which months or year apply to you.
working/32-hours: The 32-hour rule. You can work up to 32 hours/week. Go over and you lose the entire month's payment.
working/income-offset: How income affects your payment. Earn money while on Elterngeld? Your payment gets reduced, but you still come out ahead.
working/plus-for-parttime: Why Plus pays more for part-time. The surprising math: ElterngeldPlus often gives you more total money if you work part-time.
working/self-employed: Self-employed parents. Freelancers and business owners have special rules. Here's what you need to know.
working/minijob: Minijob while on Elterngeld. A Minijob counts toward your 32 hours. Make sure you're not accidentally over the limit.
application/deadlines: When to apply. No strict deadline, but you can only get 3 months of back-pay. Apply early!
application/how-to-apply: Step-by-step guide. From gathering documents to submitting your application, the complete walkthrough.
application/documents: Document checklist. Everything you need: birth certificate, payslips, employer letter, and more.
application/where-to-apply: Where to apply. Find your local Elterngeldstelle. It depends on which Bundesland you live in.
application/changes: Changing your application. Plans changed? You can modify your Elterngeld months, here's how.
planning/splitting-months: Splitting months between parents. Both parents can take Elterngeld. Here are common strategies for dividing the time.
planning/single-parents: Single parents. Single parents can get all 14 months themselves. Plus extra flexibility with the Partnerschaftsbonus.
planning/premature-birth: Premature birth. Baby born early? You get up to 4 extra months of Elterngeld depending on how premature.
planning/elternzeit-vs-elterngeld: Elternzeit vs Elterngeld. They sound similar but they're different things. Here's what each one means.
planning/optimal-strategy: Finding your optimal strategy. Maximize your benefits: when to take Basis, when to switch to Plus, and how to combine them.
special-cases/students: Students. Studying doesn't count toward the 32-hour limit. You can study full-time and still get Elterngeld.
special-cases/civil-servants: Civil servants (Beamte). Beamte get Elterngeld like everyone else, but there are some differences in how it's calculated.
special-cases/multiple-jobs: Multiple jobs. All your jobs count together toward the 32-hour limit. Plan carefully!
special-cases/adoption: Adoption & foster children. Adoptive and foster parents can get Elterngeld too. The rules are slightly different.
related-benefits/mutterschaftsgeld: Mutterschaftsgeld. Maternity pay during Mutterschutz. It gets deducted from Elterngeld, but you're not losing money.
related-benefits/kindergeld: Kindergeld. €259/month per child in 2026. This is separate from Elterngeld, so you can receive both.
related-benefits/health-insurance: Health insurance during Elterngeld. What happens to your health insurance while you're on parental leave? It depends on your situation.
related-benefits/tax-implications: Tax implications. Elterngeld is tax-free but affects your tax rate. Here's what that means.
calculation/older-child-elterngeld: Still getting Elterngeld for an older child. The older child's Elterngeld is deducted from the new baby's, with 300 € protected. Here is how both payments interact.
calculation/tax-free-pay-company-car: Tax-free supplements and company cars. Tax-free supplements don't raise your Elterngeld, a company car does, and keeping it during Elterngeld costs money.
eligibility/stepchildren-paternity: Stepparents and fathers before paternity is recognised. Married to the child's parent, or paternity still pending? You can claim, but the parent with custody has to agree.
planning/separated-parents: Separated parents and shared care. Who can claim depends on where your child lives. The one-third rule, signatures, and how months are split if you disagree.
planning/elternzeit-holiday-and-notice: Elternzeit: holiday, resigning, grandparents. Holiday cuts during Elternzeit, leftover holiday, the three-month notice to resign at the end, and Elternzeit for grandparents.
planning/reform-2027: Elterngeld reform 2027. A draft, not yet law: what is planned for births from 1 November 2027 and what stays the same until then.
working/average-income: One average for all months with income. Income during Elterngeld is averaged across all months of the same type. One high month lowers them all.
working/midijob: Midijob (603 € to 2,000 €). Midijob pay gets lower social contribution deductions in the Elterngeld calculation, before and during Elterngeld.
special-cases/illness-or-death: Serious illness or death in the family. Partner months for one parent, relatives who can claim, interrupted care, and what ends when a child dies.
special-cases/foreign-benefits: Foreign parental benefits. Comparable benefits from abroad are deducted in full, and Elterngeld can be put on hold until you apply for them.
special-cases/other-occupations: Civil servants, soldiers, farmers, childminders. Pay during the protection period, military service months, farm profits and childminding beyond 32 hours.
related-benefits/maintenance-pension-unemployment: Maintenance, pension and unemployment insurance. How Elterngeld counts for maintenance, pension credits for child-raising, and staying covered by unemployment insurance.
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