Apply for parental allowance

3 variants

There are three types of parental allowance:

1. Basic parental allowance
2. Parental allowance plus
3. Partnership bonus

These variants can be combined with each other.

1. basic parental allowance

Basic parental allowance is a family benefit for all parents who want to look after their child themselves in the first 14 months after the birth and are therefore not working or not working full-time (max. 32 hours per week).

Both parents are entitled to a total of twelve monthly amounts, which they can divide between them. If both parents apply for parental allowance and one of them has less income after the birth than before, parental allowance is paid for two additional months (partner months). Parental allowance must be claimed for at least two months and can be claimed for a maximum of twelve months.

New regulation for births from 01.04.2024

Simultaneous receipt of basic parental allowance by the parents is only possible for a maximum of one month and only within the first 12 months of the child's life.

Exceptions to this rule are

• Premature babies (born at least 6 weeks before the expected date of delivery)
• twins or multiple births
• Newborn children with disabilities
• Siblings with disabilities (for whom a sibling bonus is granted)

2. parental allowance plus

Parental Allowance Plus is a variant of parental allowance, especially for parents who want to return to work earlier. It also offers the option of doubling the period of parental allowance entitlement. One month of basic parental allowance becomes two months of parental allowance plus. It is not mandatory to work part-time. Parental Allowance Plus amounts to a maximum of half of the basic parental allowance and can be paid beyond the 14th month of life.

3. partnership bonus

The partnership bonus is an additional benefit to Basic Parental Allowance and Parental Allowance Plus. Here, two, three or four additional months of Parental Allowance Plus are granted to each parent if both parents work between 24 and 32 hours per week for two, three or four consecutive months. The partnership bonus must be claimed for at least two months and can be claimed for a maximum of four months.

Longer receipt of parental allowance for premature babies/preterm babies

Parental allowance can be drawn for longer if the child is born at least six weeks before the expected date of birth. The additional months of basic parental allowance are possible under the following conditions:

• Birth of the child at least 6 weeks before the expected date of birth corresponds to 1 additional month of basic parental allowance
• Birth of the child at least 8 weeks before the expected date of birth corresponds to 2 additional months of basic parental allowance
• Birth of the child at least 12 weeks before the expected date of birth corresponds to 3 additional months of basic parental allowance
• Birth of the child at least 16 weeks before the expected date of birth corresponds to 4 additional months of basic parental allowance

Here too, basic parental allowance can be converted into Parental Allowance Plus.

Prerequisites

You can apply for parental allowance if you

• is resident or ordinarily resident in Germany
• live in a household with their child and look after and bring up the child themselves
• have no or no full-time employment (max. 32 hours per week) after the birth
• had a taxable income of up to 250,000.00 euros in the last completed assessment period (for parental couples, the limit is 300,000.00 euros for births up to 31.03.2024, for births from 01.04.2024 in the amount of 200,000.00 euros for single parents and parental couples and for births from 01.04.2025 in the amount of 175,000.00 euros for single parents and parental couples)

The following people can receive parental allowance

• Employees
• Self-employed persons
• Civil servants
• students
• trainees
• Unemployed persons
• Housewives or househusbands
• Adoptive parents
• Relatives up to the third degree (exceptional cases)

Parental allowance can only be claimed for full months of the child's life.

A month lasts from the date of birth in one month to the day before the date of birth in the next month. If the child is born on the 15th of a month, the month ends on the 14th of the following month.

Notes on calculating parental allowance

The amount of parental allowance is based on the average monthly net income available to the parent in the twelve months prior to the birth. It replaces 65% or 67% of the monthly earned income lost after the birth of the child. There is a higher replacement rate for low earners. Entitled persons receive a minimum of 300.00 euros (basic parental allowance) or 150.00 euros (parental allowance plus) and a maximum of 1,800.00 euros (basic parental allowance) or 900.00 euros (parental allowance plus).

Calculation of the adjusted net income:

• Income tax, solidarity surcharge, church tax and compulsory social security contributions are deducted as a lump sum from the current tax gross amount
• In addition, a lump-sum deduction of EUR 102.50 per month is made for births from 01.01.2025 for the employee lump sum
• Other emoluments and tax-free income are not taken into account as income

Sibling bonus:

The sibling bonus is paid in addition to the calculated parental allowance as long as an older sibling under the age of 3 or two children under the age of 6 live in the household. The bonus is 10% of the parental allowance due, but at least 75.00 euros. Please submit a copy of a current proof of child benefit (not older than 3 months). In the case of multiple births, each child is entitled to parental allowance. The parental allowance increases by 300.00 euros for each additional multiple child.

On the website of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, you can use the parental allowance calculator/parental allowance planner to determine the amount of your parental allowance and test the various parental allowance models (see links).

Parental allowance must be applied for in writing. You can obtain the application for parental allowance from us or as a download (see links). Please note that you must print out the parental allowance application via ElterngeldDigital (online application), sign it and submit it to us. There is no automatic online transmission.

The application can only be submitted after the birth of the child. Retroactive payments are only granted for the last 3 months of life before the application is received.

Video with step-by-step instructions

In our video you will learn step by step how to apply for parental allowance in Jena - online or in person. We show you where to find the right forms, which documents are required and how to submit an application.

For individual advice on parental allowance and parental leave or to submit your application, please book an appointment in advance.

The Jena Parental Allowance Office is family-friendly - with storage space for baby carriages, a breastfeeding and nappy-changing room and barrier-free access. The video also gives you an insight into the family service of the city of Jena, which provides you with competent support.

Find out more now, book an appointment and apply for parental allowance stress-free - in your family-friendly Jena!

• Application form
• Original birth certificate of the child "To apply for parental allowance"
• Proof of income (see below)
• Original certificate of receipt of maternity benefit or rejection of maternity benefit from the health insurance fund (copy for the parental allowance office)
• Certificate of earnings with employer's allowance as a copy or employer's certificate for the application for parental allowance during the maternity protection period (see downloads)
• Parental leave confirmation from the employer as a copy
• for part-time employment during the parental allowance period: proof from the employer of weekly working hours and expected earnings
• If applicable, a copy of current child benefit certificate (not older than three months, e.g. bank statement)
• Copy of residence permit, if applicable
• If applicable, a copy of proof of premature birth and the expected date of delivery (e.g. maternity pass)

Proof of income (copy):

• if you are not self-employed: twelve certificates of earnings before the birth/start of the maternity protection period
• if self-employed: tax assessment from the calendar year before the birth of the child (previous year) or last available tax assessment + income statement (EÜR) for the previous year, forecast for the reference period
• for self-employed and non-self-employed activities: all earnings statements from the previous year, tax assessment notice from the previous year or last available tax assessment notice + income statement (EÜR) from the previous year, forecast for the reference period
• Note: Exceptions possible (e.g. receipt of parental allowance for a previous child)

Please note:

• If you have any queries about your parental allowance or parental allowance application or if you wish to submit documents to us (by post or e-mail), please ensure that you include your child's name and date of birth (otherwise we will not be able to allocate them).
• You will have to pay 0.50 euros per copied page for copies made at the parental allowance office.

• Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act (BEEG)