Parental Allowance (Elterngeld)
Parental allowance (Elterngeld) is a wage replacement benefit that parents can receive for 12 + 2 months (single parents for 14 months). The parental allowance amounts to 65% of your average earnings (up to 100% for parents with low income) of the preceding 12 months but is limited to a maximum of 1800 euros. Those who have not been employed receive 300 euros base parental allowance (Basiselterngeld). In addition, there is a sibling bonus in the parental allowance if there is either another child under the age of 3 or two older siblings under the age of 6. An initial estimate of how high your parental allowance will be is provided by the Parental Allowance Quick Calculator (“Elterngeldschnellrechner”) (unfortunately, this website is available only in German).The ElterngeldPlus means that you receive half as much money for twice as long (compared to the Elterngeld). The partnership bonus of the ElterngeldPlus (4 additional months) is not quite so relevant for you as a student, as it requires that you work 25-30 hours a week in addition to the parental allowance. If you work 25 hours a week, study and raise a child under 14 months at the same time, I will be happy to advise you personally on ElterngeldPlus.
FAQ
No. You can keep on studying.
Yes. You can find the latest application form as well as further leaflets here.
The parental allowance must be applied for in writing at the Elterngeldstelle (parental allowance office) of the municipality in whose area the parents are resident. In Göttingen: at Gothaer Platz 3 .
- Application form for the Elterngeld with documents to be attached
- Original birth certificate “for the Elterngeld”
- Enrolment certificate ("Immatrikulationsbescheinigung")
- Proof of Mutterschaftsgeld (maternity allowance) payments from your health insurance/ employer contribution or other relevant payments (if you receive such payments)
- Proof of income, tax identification number, tax assessment notices for the year before the birth of your child (if available)
Yes. And you should do that. You can determine the distribution of the 14 parental allowance months yourself. It is important that each parent receives at least 2 months of parental allowance so that you can claim the whole 14 months. You can choose between 12 and 2 months, 7 and 7 months or any other constellation that adds up to 14 months. It is also up to you to decide whether you want to receive your parental allowance simultaneously or one after another.
In fact, only earned income from self-employment or non-self-employment is taken into account. This means that BAföG or scholarships are not taken into account when calculating the parental allowance.
I'm afraid not.