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Apply for Parental Allowance Plus (ElterngeldPlus)

Elterngeldstelle (parental allowance office) · double the duration, half the amount

ElterngeldstelleWith Basic Parental Allowance (Basiselterngeld)

Parental Allowance Plus (ElterngeldPlus) is not extra money, but a different distribution of the same money: one month of Basic Parental Allowance can be converted into two Parental Allowance Plus months, each amounting to at most half of the basic amount.

This raises the question that precedes every decision and is rarely answered clearly: if you do not work, the swap makes no difference mathematically. You receive the same total sum, just spread over double the time. Parental Allowance Plus only becomes worthwhile through part-time work – because then the income is offset differently, and in the end you often keep considerably more.

The second reason is the Partnership Bonus (Partnerschaftsbonus): four additional Parental Allowance Plus months for both parents, if both work part time at the same time within a set range of weekly hours. This is the only way to extend the total duration beyond the regular months.

Here too, the competent body is the Elterngeldstelle, not the Familienkasse (Family Benefits Office). And because Basic Parental Allowance, Parental Allowance Plus and the bonus are interlinked, planning must come before the application.

Last updated27 August 2026
Legal basis§ 4 Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act (Bundeselterngeld- und Elternzeitgesetz, BEEG) · § 4a · § 4b · § 2
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, 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.
AmountHalf of Basic Parental AllowanceMax. €900
Conversion1 month = 2 monthsDouble the duration
WorthwhileWith part-time workWithout it, hardly
Partnership Bonus4 extra monthsBoth working part time
Required documents

What you need

Proof of planned part-time work

An employment contract or confirmation from the employer of the number of hours. This is the core point: without part-time work, Parental Allowance Plus is, mathematically, in most cases just the same sum spread over a longer period.

Proof of income before the birth

The same basis as for Basic Parental Allowance – the twelve months before the month of birth. This produces the basic amount, half of which determines the maximum amount of Parental Allowance Plus.

Details of expected part-time income

Income earned during the benefit period is offset against the payment. For the decision between Basis and Plus, a realistic estimate matters more than any rule of thumb.

Coordination with the other parent

The Partnership Bonus requires both parents to work at the same time within a set range of weekly hours. Without agreement between you and without the approval of both employers, it cannot be obtained.

Birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde) for Elterngeld purposes

As with Basic Parental Allowance. If you have already applied for Basic Parental Allowance, it is already on file with the Elterngeldstelle.

Step by step

How to proceed

  1. 1

    First check whether you want to work part time at all

    This is the real decision. Without part-time work, Parental Allowance Plus gives you mathematically the same total sum as Basic Parental Allowance, just spread over double the time. Anyone who does not know this chooses Plus expecting more money – and gets only a longer duration.

  2. 2

    Calculate both options

    With part-time income, the calculation often works out in favour of Parental Allowance Plus, because the income is offset differently. How much depends on the hours worked and the earnings – calculate it with your own actual figures instead of following a general recommendation.

  3. 3

    Factor in the Partnership Bonus

    Four additional Parental Allowance Plus months for both parents, if both work part time at the same time within a set range of weekly hours. This is the only way to extend the total duration beyond the regular months – and it requires the cooperation of both employers.

  4. 4

    Decide on the months before the application

    Basis, Plus and the bonus are interlinked. A later change is possible but involved, and some combinations rule each other out. Plan the entire benefit period through once before you submit the application.

  5. 5

    Agree it bindingly with the employer

    Part-time work during parental leave (Elternzeit) must be notified to the employer and adhered to – the Elterngeldstelle checks whether the agreed number of hours actually applies. A later change to the number of hours can affect the entitlement, particularly for the Partnership Bonus.

  6. 6

    Apply at the Elterngeldstelle

    Together with Basic Parental Allowance or as a change. The competent body is the Elterngeldstelle of the federal state, not the Familienkasse – and not the employer either, who is only responsible for parental leave.

Fee information

Costs and payment

When the swap pays offThe calculation that should precede the decision
AmountMax. half of Basic Parental Allowance
Maximum amountUp to €900 monthly
Conversion1 Basic month = 2 Plus months
Without part-time workSame sum, longer period
With part-time workUsually considerably more
Partnership Bonus4 additional months

Parental Allowance Plus amounts to at most half of Basic Parental Allowance, but is paid for twice as long instead: one Basic month corresponds to two Plus months. This leads to the calculation that should precede every decision and that hardly anyone states outright: anyone who does not work during the benefit period receives the same total sum with Parental Allowance Plus – just stretched out. This can make sense if a longer period fits your life planning better, but it brings no extra money. The advantage arises through part-time work. With Basic Parental Allowance, part-time income reduces the benefit considerably; with Parental Allowance Plus, the offsetting works differently, so that in the end you often keep considerably more. How much depends on the number of hours and the earnings – calculate it with your own figures. The second reason is the Partnership Bonus: four additional Parental Allowance Plus months for both parents, if both work part time at the same time within a set range of weekly hours. This is the only way to extend the total benefit period beyond the regular months, and it requires the cooperation of both employers.

Good to know

Important notes

Without part-time work, Parental Allowance Plus brings no extra money mathematically. The same sum, double the duration. Anyone expecting more money is choosing on a false assumption.

The advantage arises from the different offsetting of part-time income. That is exactly what Parental Allowance Plus was created for.

Only the Partnership Bonus extends the total duration. Four additional Plus months for both parents – but only if both work at the same time within the prescribed range of weekly hours.

The competent body is the Elterngeldstelle. Not the Familienkasse, and not the employer, who is only concerned with parental leave.

Plan all the months before the application. Basis, Plus and the bonus are interlinked; later changes are involved and partly excluded.

The agreed number of hours must be adhered to. The Elterngeldstelle checks this in particular for the Partnership Bonus.

The maximum amount is half of the base amount. At the maximum rate, that is up to €900 monthly.

Both employers must cooperate. Without coordinated part-time work for both parents, the bonus cannot be obtained.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes

Choosing Parental Allowance Plus and expecting more money. Without part-time work, it is the same sum over double the time.

Planning for the Partnership Bonus without speaking to both employers. It requires both parents to work at the same time within the prescribed range of weekly hours.

Distributing the months only in the application form. The combination needs to be calculated through beforehand; some options rule each other out.

Unilaterally changing the number of hours later. This can affect the entitlement, particularly for the bonus, and leads to recovery of overpayments.

Applying at the Familienkasse. The competent body is the Elterngeldstelle of the federal state.

Calculating only one option. Whether Basis or Plus is more favourable depends on the actual part-time income – there is no general recommendation.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

Do I get more money with Parental Allowance Plus?

Only if you work part time during the benefit period. One month of Basic Parental Allowance is converted into two Parental Allowance Plus months, each worth at most half as much – without part-time work, this results, mathematically, in the same total sum, just spread over double the time. The advantage arises because part-time income is offset differently under Parental Allowance Plus than under Basic Parental Allowance, where it reduces the benefit considerably. Anyone who does not want to work therefore chooses Parental Allowance Plus for reasons of duration, not of amount.

How much is Parental Allowance Plus?

At most half of the Basic Parental Allowance to which you would be entitled without part-time income. At the maximum Basic Parental Allowance rate of €1,800, that is up to €900 monthly; at the minimum amount of €300, correspondingly €150. Within this range, the actual amount depends on how much you earn during the benefit period.

What is the Partnership Bonus?

Four additional Parental Allowance Plus months for both parents, if both work part time at the same time within a set range of weekly hours. It is the only way to extend the total benefit period beyond the regular months. In practice, it usually fails not because of the requirements but because of the organisation: both employers must support the coordinated part-time arrangement, and the number of hours must be adhered to throughout the entire period – the Elterngeldstelle checks this.

Can I combine Basic Parental Allowance and Parental Allowance Plus?

Yes, and in practice this is the standard case: many take Basic Parental Allowance first for the months without economic activity, and then switch to Parental Allowance Plus for the period with part-time work. It is important to plan the entire benefit period through before the application. A later change is possible but involved, and certain combinations rule each other out.

How many hours am I allowed to work?

During parental leave, under § 15 BEEG a limit of 32 hours a week on a monthly average applies. For the Partnership Bonus, a narrower range of weekly hours also applies, which both parents must observe at the same time. Have the specific hour limits confirmed by the Elterngeldstelle before agreeing the working hours with the employer – a correction after the fact is considerably more difficult than prior coordination.

Where do I apply for Parental Allowance Plus?

At the Elterngeldstelle of your federal state, together with Basic Parental Allowance or as a later change. Not at the Familienkasse – which is responsible for Kindergeld and Kinderzuschlag – and not with the employer, whom you only notify of your parental leave. These three routes are regularly confused, although they lead to three different bodies.

What happens if my working hours change?

You must report this to the Elterngeldstelle. A changed number of hours affects the amount and, for the Partnership Bonus, can even cause the entitlement to lapse if the prescribed range of hours is no longer observed. Unreported changes lead to recovery of overpayments – and because they are often only noticed at the final review, these then cover several months at once.

Is Parental Allowance Plus worthwhile for single parents?

It depends on the same thing as for couples: whether you work part time during the benefit period. Single parents can claim the partner months on their own and can therefore use the full regular duration in any case; whether converting to Parental Allowance Plus is also worthwhile depends on the part-time income. Single parents, too, can claim the Partnership Bonus under certain conditions – have this confirmed by the Elterngeldstelle for your specific case.

Related official procedures

Elterngeld
The basis of the calculation
Up to €1,800
Parental leave
The 32-hour limit
Free of charge
Kindergeld (child benefit)
Continues independently
€259

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