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Apply for Elterngeld (parental allowance)

Elterngeldstelle (parental allowance office) · not the Familienkasse (Family Benefits Office)

ElterngeldstellePartly online

First, the competent body, because getting this wrong can cost weeks: you do not apply for Elterngeld (parental allowance) at the Familienkasse, but at the Elterngeldstelle of your federal state. The Familienkasse pays Kindergeld (child benefit) and Kinderzuschlag (child supplement, KiZ); it is not responsible for Elterngeld and cannot decide anything regarding it.

Under § 2 Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act (Bundeselterngeld- und Elternzeitgesetz, BEEG), the amount is generally 67% of the income before the birth, at most €1,800 and at least €300 monthly. Two adjustments above and below this are almost never mentioned, although they make a considerable difference: above an income of €1,200, the rate decreases gradually to 65% – and below €1,000 it rises to up to 100%. Anyone who has earned little may therefore receive their full previous income.

The point that causes most applications to fail is in § 1 Abs. 8 BEEG: the entitlement ceases from a taxable income of more than €175,000 in the last completed assessment period before the birth. And here is the particularity that hardly anyone expects: the same threshold applies to couples – what counts is the sum of both incomes, not a doubled amount.

This threshold has been lowered several times in recent years. If you read an overview citing €300,000 or €200,000, it describes an earlier state.

Last updated27 August 2026
Legal basis§ 1 BEEG · § 2 · § 4 · § 7
VerificationChecked against gesetze-im-internet.de (consolidated version)
Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta
Independent information website: We are not the Familienkasse, not an authority, and not a paid advisory service — we do not submit applications for you. All information is taken from official sources and explained here in plain terms; the competent body is always authoritative. Not legal advice. The competent body is the Elterngeldstelle of the respective federal state, not the Familienkasse. All information is provided without guarantee. We are neither solicitors nor tax consultants: we document administrative procedures and check the information against the official source — this is information, not legal or tax advice.
Amount67% of incomeMax. €1,800, min. €300
Under €1,000Up to 100%Low-income component
Income limit€175,000Couples: same threshold
Competent bodyElterngeldstelleNot the Familienkasse
Required documents

What you need

Birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde) for Elterngeld purposes

As with Kindergeld, the Standesamt (registry office) issues a separate copy for this purpose. Ask for it explicitly when the birth is recorded – it is free of charge; reordering costs money.

Proof of income for the last twelve months

For employees, the payslips for the twelve months before the month of birth; for self-employed persons, generally the tax notice for the previous year. The reference period (Bemessungszeitraum) determines the amount – check whether special circumstances such as illness or an earlier period of parental leave (Elternzeit) shift it.

Tax notice for the income limit

For the assessment under § 1 Abs. 8 BEEG, what counts is the taxable income of the last completed assessment period before the birth – not the current one. For couples, the notices of both partners.

Certificate from the employer

Concerning parental leave, planned part-time work and, where applicable, the employer’s supplement to Mutterschaftsgeld (maternity allowance). Maternity benefits are offset against Elterngeld – this surprises many people and cannot be avoided.

Details of how the months are divided

Who takes which months, and when? This planning must come before the application: Basic Parental Allowance (Basiselterngeld), Parental Allowance Plus (ElterngeldPlus) and the Partnership Bonus (Partnerschaftsbonus) can be combined, but the combination needs to be calculated through.

Bank details

Which account the payment is made to. If both parents apply separately, each provides their own details.

Step by step

How to proceed

  1. 1

    Go to the right body

    The competent body is the Elterngeldstelle of your federal state – depending on the state, this may be the Jugendamt (youth welfare office), the Versorgungsamt (office for social care provision), or a separate authority. Not the Familienkasse, and not the employer. An application to the wrong body costs weeks, during which the backdating deadline keeps running.

  2. 2

    First check the income limit

    If the taxable income of the last completed assessment period before the birth exceeds €175,000, the entitlement ceases. For couples, the sum of both incomes counts against the same threshold. Check this in advance, rather than compiling documents for an application with no prospect of success.

  3. 3

    Understand the reference period

    The calculation is based on the twelve months before the month of birth. Certain periods – such as maternity protection (Mutterschutz), an earlier period of parental leave, or pregnancy-related illness – can shift this period. This often noticeably increases Elterngeld and must be applied for.

  4. 4

    Plan the months before you apply

    Basic Parental Allowance, Parental Allowance Plus and the Partnership Bonus can be combined. A later change is possible but involved – and some combinations rule each other out. Calculate the options through before you decide on anything.

  5. 5

    Apply within three months

    Elterngeld is paid retroactively for only three months before the month the application is submitted. This is a considerably shorter deadline than with Kindergeld's six months – a difference that is regularly overlooked because both are perceived as a “family benefit”.

  6. 6

    Factor in offsetting

    Mutterschaftsgeld and the employer's supplement are offset against Elterngeld, as is income from part-time work during the benefit period. Anyone who does not plan for this is budgeting for amounts that will not actually arrive.

Fee information

Costs and payment

Amount and limitsTwo adjustments rarely mentioned
General rule67% of income
Maximum amount€1,800 monthly
Minimum amount€300 monthly
Income under €1,000Up to 100%
Income over €1,200Decreases to 65%
Income limit€175,000

Under § 2 BEEG, Elterngeld amounts to 67% of the income from economic activity before the birth, at most €1,800 and at least €300 monthly. Two adjustments above and below this are almost never mentioned. If the relevant income is under €1,000, the rate increases by 0.1 percentage points for every €2 by which it falls short of this amount – up to a maximum of 100%. Anyone who has earned little may therefore have their full previous income replaced. Conversely, above €1,200 the rate decreases by 0.1 percentage points for every €2, down to 65%. However, the point at which most applications fail is § 1 Abs. 8 BEEG: the entitlement ceases for a taxable income of more than €175,000 in the last completed assessment period before the birth. And the particularity that hardly anyone expects: if another person also meets the requirements, the entitlement ceases if the sum of both taxable incomes exceeds €175,000 – for couples, therefore, the same threshold applies as for single parents, not double. This threshold has been lowered several times; overviews citing €300,000 or €200,000 describe an earlier state.

Good to know

Important notes

The competent body is the Elterngeldstelle, not the Familienkasse. Depending on the federal state, this is the Jugendamt, the Versorgungsamt, or a separate authority. An application to the wrong body costs weeks.

The same threshold of €175,000 applies to couples. What counts is the sum of both taxable incomes, not a doubled amount. Hardly anyone expects this.

The threshold has been lowered several times. Overviews citing €300,000 or €200,000 describe an earlier state.

With income under €1,000, it can be up to 100%. The low-income component is hardly ever mentioned, although it makes a considerable difference for low incomes.

Backdated for only three months. Considerably shorter than Kindergeld's six months – the difference is often overlooked.

What counts is the income of the last completed assessment period. Not the current one. A drop in income after the assessment does not help against the threshold.

The reference period can shift. Maternity protection, an earlier period of parental leave, or pregnancy-related illness – this often increases the benefit and must be applied for.

Maternity benefits are offset. Mutterschaftsgeld and the employer's supplement reduce Elterngeld. Anyone who does not plan for this budgets too high.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes

Applying at the Familienkasse. It is not responsible. The application must go to the Elterngeldstelle of the federal state, and the time lost counts against the three-month deadline.

Assuming a doubled income threshold for couples. It remains €175,000 for the sum of both incomes.

Waiting longer than three months. Elterngeld is only paid retroactively for three months – not six, as with Kindergeld.

Not applying for the shift of the reference period. Maternity protection or an earlier period of parental leave can shift the period and considerably increase the benefit.

Overlooking the offsetting of maternity benefits. They considerably reduce Elterngeld in the affected months.

Only planning the months when filling in the form. Basic Parental Allowance, Parental Allowance Plus and the Partnership Bonus are interlinked; some combinations rule each other out.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

Do I apply for Elterngeld at the Familienkasse?

No. The competent body is the Elterngeldstelle of your federal state – depending on the state, this is located at the Jugendamt, the Versorgungsamt, or a separate authority. The Familienkasse pays Kindergeld and Kinderzuschlag and cannot decide anything regarding Elterngeld. This mix-up is common and costly, because the three-month deadline for retroactive payment keeps running during the time lost.

How much is Elterngeld?

Under § 2 BEEG, generally 67% of the income before the birth, at most €1,800 and at least €300 per month. Two adjustments are important and rarely mentioned: if the relevant income is under €1,000, the rate rises by 0.1 percentage points for every €2 shortfall – up to 100%. If it is over €1,200, it decreases correspondingly down to 65%. The first rule is especially significant for low incomes.

From what income is there no Elterngeld at all?

From a taxable income of more than €175,000 in the last completed assessment period before the birth (§ 1 Abs. 8 BEEG). The point that surprises almost everyone: the same threshold applies to couples. If the other person also meets the requirements, the entitlement ceases if the sum of both taxable incomes exceeds €175,000 – so there is no doubled amount for couples. This threshold has been lowered several times in recent years; if you read €300,000 or €200,000, that is an earlier state.

How far back can Elterngeld be backdated?

Only for three months before the month the application is submitted. This is considerably shorter than Kindergeld, where it is six months – and because both are perceived as a “family benefit”, the deadline is easily misapplied. Submit the application promptly after the birth, therefore; submitting it incomplete and supplying documents later is better than waiting for the last certificate.

What is the reference period (Bemessungszeitraum) and why is it important?

It determines which income the calculation is based on – generally the twelve months before the month of birth. Importantly, it can shift: periods of maternity protection, an earlier period of parental leave, or pregnancy-related illness can be excluded under certain conditions, so that earlier and usually higher-income months count instead. This often noticeably increases Elterngeld, but it does not happen automatically – you must claim it.

Is Mutterschaftsgeld offset?

Yes, and this is one of the most common disappointments. Mutterschaftsgeld and the employer’s supplement are offset against Elterngeld, so that in the affected months – usually the first ones after the birth – effectively little or no Elterngeld arrives. If you want to estimate the actual payment pattern, therefore, plan with the months after the maternity protection period ends.

Can I work while receiving Elterngeld?

Yes, part time. However, the income from this is offset and reduces Elterngeld. In many cases, Parental Allowance Plus is then the better choice: although it amounts to at most half of Basic Parental Allowance, it is paid for twice as long and is tailored to part-time work. Calculate both options through before deciding on the months – the decision can only be corrected later with effort.

For how long is Elterngeld paid?

Basic Parental Allowance is paid for twelve months; if both parents take months, two partner months are added, making fourteen in total. Single parents can claim the full fourteen months on their own. In addition, there is Parental Allowance Plus with double the benefit period at half the amount, and the Partnership Bonus for periods when both work part time. The combination needs to be calculated through before the application.

Related official procedures

Parental Allowance Plus
Twice as long, half as much
Up to €900
Parental leave
With the employer, not the authority
Free of charge
Mutterschaftsgeld (maternity allowance)
Is offset
€13/day

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