Parental allowance, parental allowance plus, and partnership bonus

How do we manage this financially? This question is probably on the minds of all expectant parents sooner or later. One of the supports available to you after birth is parental allowance. It at least partially compensates for the loss of income caused by caring for your baby. But who is entitled to parental allowance? What is the deal with ElterngeldPlus? And how does the application process work? Even though dealing with these questions is certainly not the most exciting aspect of becoming a parent, it is worth addressing them early on. We have summarized the most important information for you.

How much parental allowance do you receive?

Parental allowance is a benefit provided by the German government. It is intended to financially support parents during their baby's first year of life (and possibly beyond) and to compensate for the loss of income caused by the .

You get Twins ? Then you have a chance Multiple Births Surcharge to. For twins, this means: an additional 300 euros on top of the basic parental allowance or 150 euros for ElterngeldPlus. For triplets, the supplement doubles, and for quadruplets, it triples.

How long do you receive parental allowance?

If only you or your partner are receiving parental allowance, you are entitled to 12 months If you share the care, the period extends to a total of 14 months . How you divide the months among yourselves is up to you. The only rule is: one parent can claim at least two and at most twelve months for themselves. Otherwise, you can, for example, receive parental allowance simultaneously, consecutively, or alternately.

Even if you single parent Are you entitled to the full 14 months?

If your baby is born as a at least six weeks before the estimated due date, you can receive parental allowance for up to 18 months.

What is ElterngeldPlus?

If you want to return to your job early after childbirth, you can receive ElterngeldPlus. It allows you to Combine parental leave and part-time work flexibly You can work up to 32 hours per week and receive ElterngeldPlus. twice as long as the basic parental allowance, but only at half the amount. It accordingly ranges between 150 euros and 900 euros per month.

Parenting allowance and Parenting allowance Plus can be combined in any way. This is especially interesting when one parent stays at home full-time during the first few months and then returns to part-time work. Consult with your partner to determine which combination is optimal for your situation. For example, the helpful is the Parenting allowance calculator the family portal of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. Here you can calculate the amount of parental allowance in various combinations and receive an approximate guideline.

What is the partnership bonus?

In addition to ElterngeldPlus, you can for up to four months receive a partnership bonus equal to the amount of ElterngeldPlus. The Prerequisite : Both parents are involved in childcare and each work between 24 and 32 hours per week. This way, you can extend the reference period to up to 28 months. The partnership bonus is equally available to single parents.

Who is entitled to parental allowance?

All fathers and mothers who care for their child themselves after birth can apply for parental allowance. . It does not matter whether you are employed or self-employed. Homemakers, students, trainees, and unemployment benefit I recipients also have a right to the minimum amount. High earners (that is, for single parents, more than 250,000 euros taxable income; for parent couples combined, more than 300,000 euros taxable income) do not receive parental allowance.

Foster, step, and adoptive parents can also apply for parental allowance. . Under certain circumstances, parental allowance can also be paid to relatives of the third degree, for example to Grandparents . This is especially possible when the parents are unable to care for their child themselves due to health reasons or other serious circumstances.

How do I apply for parental allowance?

The responsible authority for your parental allowance application is the respective Parental allowance office . Depending on the federal state, it may be located at the Youth Welfare Office, the Social Services Office, or the Benefits Office. You can find out which office is responsible for you on the Federal Government Family Portal Check. At the parental allowance office, you can also receive comprehensive advice on which solution is most advantageous for you and your partner.

The application forms vary from state to state. Therefore, inquire in good time about the required documents. Usually, you can your Apply for parental allowance before the birth . Other important documents, for example the Birth Certificate Your baby's, you can provide later. Since parental allowance is paid retroactively for a maximum of three months, it's best not to delay too long after the birth.

Tips

• The government support offers you flexible options. To determine the most advantageous option for you, ask yourself how long you want to take a career break and how you and your partner want to share the childcare.

• It is best to seek advice early on about the due date . Take your time to weigh the different options carefully.

• Take care of the necessary documents in advance. Once your baby is born, you probably won't want to deal with unnecessary bureaucratic procedures.

• Married partners can choose between several tax classes. If you and the mother/father of your baby are married, it is worthwhile to change the tax class in a timely manner: the parent who will primarily care for the child later should be in tax class III at least seven months before the start of the Maternity Protection begins. The tax class affects the net income, and a higher net income has a positive impact on the amount of parental allowance. Changing it can sometimes amount to several hundred euros per month in parental allowance.

Parental allowance, Parental allowance Plus, or both in combination? Find the flexible solution that is best for you so that you can later dedicate yourself completely to your little explorer without worries. If you want to learn more about your rights during pregnancy, check out our !