Parental allowance is a benefit for parents of infants and toddlers. It replaces a portion of the lost income if you want to be there for your child after birth and take a break from or reduce your work. Parental allowance is also available to parents who had no income at all before the birth.

There are three types of parental allowance:

• Basic Parental Allowance
• Parental Allowance Plus
• Partnership Bonus

Parental Allowance Plus and the Partnership Bonus provide you with additional support if you share work and family responsibilities equally with your partner after the birth.

Even if you are a single parent, you can apply for these different types of benefits. Parental allowance is also available for adopted children and children in foster care.

As parents, you can decide for yourselves who will receive the parental allowance and for what period. In your application, you must specify the months of your child’s life for which you wish to apply for parental allowance and which parental allowance option you are choosing.

The amount of parental allowance is calculated on an individual basis. The calculation is based on the income you had before the birth and which you no longer receive after the birth. If you had no income at all before the birth or if you do not lose any income after the birth, you will receive a minimum amount. For basic parental allowance, this is at least 300.00 EUR per month. For Parental Allowance Plus, it is at least 150.00 EUR per month. 

Tip: To help you plan and calculate your benefits, you can use the parental allowance calculator provided by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs. 

You are eligible for parental allowance if you meet the following requirements:

• You care for and raise your child yourself. 
• You are a resident of Germany or normally reside here.
• You live in the same household as your child.
• You are either not employed at all or, as a rule, work no more than 32 hours per week.
  • There are several exceptions to the 32-hour-per-week limit, such as during vacation or if you are a student or in vocational training. 
• For children born on or before March 31, 2024: Your taxable income did not exceed 250,000 EUR. For two-parent families, the limit is generally 300,000 EUR.
• For births on or after April 1, 2024: Your taxable income did not exceed 200,000 EUR. This limit applies to single parents as well as couples.
• For births on or after April 1, 2025: Your taxable income did not exceed 175,000 EUR. This limit applies to single parents as well as couples.    

• Appeal
  : For more information on how to file an appeal, please refer to your parental allowance decision notice.
• Lawsuit in Social Court

You can only apply for parental allowance after the birth.

It is best to submit the application within the first 3 months of your child's life, as parental allowance is paid retroactively for a maximum of 3 months.

Due to staff shortages at the parental allowance office, processing times are currently longer than usual.

Your application can only be processed promptly if all the required documents are submitted in full.
We kindly ask you to refrain from inquiring about the status of your application. We will contact you if anything is unclear or if any documents are missing.

• Application Form
• Child’s birth certificate (in exceptional cases, another suitable document may be accepted)

Additional documents, if applicable:

• Identity card or residence permit
• Proof of acknowledgment or determination of paternity
• Proof of earned income during the assessment period
• Statement regarding estimated earned income during the benefit period
• Certificate from the health insurance provider regarding maternity benefits and a certificate from the employer regarding the supplement to maternity benefits
• Other documentation of income during the benefit period

Depending on your individual situation, the type and scope of the required documents may vary. There may also be differences between the various parental benefit offices. Therefore, please review your application documents for further instructions. If you have any questions, you can contact your local parental benefit office.

There are no costs involved.