65–67% of your net income during parental leave. Apply within 3 months of birth — Elterngeld is NOT paid retroactively! In Bavaria, the Bayerisches Familiengeld is automatically granted after approval.
✓ Verified: 15/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Elterngeldstelle
Municipal authority
Apply for Elterngeld at your local Elterngeldstelle — depending on the state that is the Jugendamt, the district, or a dedicated office. Find yours via the Familienportal.
Duration: up to 12 months (+ 2 partnership months)
Best for: parents who want to take extended leave without working
ElterngeldPlus
Amount: ~32–33% of net income
Duration: up to 24 months (+ 4 partnership months)
Best for: parents who want to return to part-time work (up to 32 hrs/week) early and stretch the benefit
Both options can be combined.
What you need to do
Use the BMFSFJ calculator to estimate your benefit amount
Agree with your partner on how to split months (partnership months add +2 bonus months)
Apply online via your state’s portal (Bavaria: ZBFS)
Attach: Geburtsurkunde + Gehaltsabrechnungen (pay slips) for the 12 months before birth + employer confirmation
Bavaria: Bayerisches Familiengeld
When Elterngeld is approved in Bavaria, the Bayerisches Familiengeld (€250/month in months 13–24) is granted automatically. No additional form required.
The Elterngeld form is the most complex in the whole process. Took 3 hours. Advice: fill it in together with your partner so you don't mix up the months. Mistakes in the month allocation are hard to correct.
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Lea recommends:
We booked a free Elterngeldberatung (advisory session) at the Elterngeldstelle. The advisor helped us calculate the best option for our income situation. Highly recommended, especially for non-standard cases (part-time, self-employment).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much Elterngeld will I receive?▾
65–67% of your average monthly net income for the 12 months before birth. Minimum: €300 (even for non-earners). Maximum: €1,800 per month.
Is there an income limit above which you get no Elterngeld at all?▾
Yes, and it is the hardest filter of all: if your taxable income (zu versteuerndes Einkommen) in the calendar year before the birth exceeds **€175,000**, the entitlement disappears entirely — not a reduced payment, but nothing. The limit applies to births from 1 April 2025 and is the same for couples and single parents (for births between 01.04.2024 and 31.03.2025 it was €200,000). What counts is taxable income from your tax assessment, not the gross or net figure on your payslip.
Can both parents draw Basiselterngeld at the same time?▾
For births from 1 April 2024, only for **one month**, and only within the child's first twelve months. It used to be longer, so older guides mislead on this point. Exceptions: parents of babies born at least six weeks before the due date, parents of twins or other multiples, and parents of a newborn with a disability or with a disabled sibling — they may still draw simultaneously as needed.
What is the difference between Basiselterngeld and ElterngeldPlus?▾
Basiselterngeld: full rate (65%) for up to 12+2 months. ElterngeldPlus: half rate, but for twice as long (up to 24+4 months). ElterngeldPlus is worthwhile if you want to return to part-time work early and extend the benefit period.
What is the Bayerisches Familiengeld?▾
A Bavarian state supplement of €250/month from the 13th to 24th month of the child's life (€500 for twins). Granted automatically when Elterngeld is approved — no separate application needed. Bavaria only.
Why can't I apply later than 3 months?▾
Elterngeld is not a retroactive benefit — it is only paid from the month of application. Applying 5 months after birth means losing 5 months of payments.