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Elterngeld & Kindergeld Calculator
Estimate your German parental allowance (Elterngeld) and child benefit (Kindergeld) — based on 2024/2025 rules. Especially useful for Indian families navigating German bureaucracy.
Interactive Calculator
Average net salary over the 12 calendar months before birth month (after all deductions).
€
→ Basiselterngeld: €1.800/month
Kindergeld: €250 × 1 = €250/month
Single-parent claim: up to 12 months (14 if single parent by law).
12
2 months12 months
Basiselterngeld / month
€1.800
Replacement rate: 51% of net income
Total payout (12 months)
€21.600
Basiselterngeld total
ElterngeldPlus / month
€900
= ½ of €1.800
Kindergeld / month
€250
€250 × 1 child
Combined first 12 months
€24.600
Elterngeld + Kindergeld
Estimate only. Actual Elterngeld is calculated by your Elterngeldstelle based on your exact 12-month payslips. Part-time income after birth reduces the payout. Consult your local Jugendamt for a precise calculation.
Elterngeld — Simple Explanation
What it is, how much you get, and how long it lasts
What is Elterngeld?
Elterngeld is German parental leave pay. When you stop working to care for your newborn, the government replaces part of your lost salary. Think of it as "salary insurance" for new parents — it lets you take time off without losing all your income.
How much will I get? — 65% of your net salary
Your pre-birth salary
100%
Elterngeld you receive
65%
Minimum
€300
Even if salary was €0
Typical (€2,500/month net)
€1,625
65% of net salary
Maximum
€1,800
Salary above €2,769/month
Quick Reference, Income to Elterngeld
| Net salary before birth | Elterngeld / month |
|---|---|
| €0 (homemaker / student) | €300 |
| €1,500 / month | ≈ €975 |
| €2,000 / month | ≈ €1,300 |
| €2,500 / month | ≈ €1,625 |
| €2,769 / month or more | €1,800 |
How long?, The 14-Month Rule
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Parent 1 (up to 12 months)
Partner months — both parents take at least 2 months → unlocks months 13 & 14
Key rule: If only one parent takes Elterngeld, the maximum is 12 months. To unlock all 14 months, both parents must each take a minimum of 2 months. This is especially useful when one parent is a homemaker, they can take 2 months at the €300 minimum, unlocking 2 extra months for the working parent.
What is Basiselterngeld?
- •Paid for up to 14 months total shared between both parents.
- •Each parent can take between 2 and 12 months individually.
- •The 14-month maximum is only reached if both parents take at least 2 months each (called Partnermonate). If only one parent claims, the maximum is 12 months.
- •Single parents get the full 14 months automatically.
- •Paid instead of salary — you can work part-time (up to 32 h/week), but any income earned after the birth is deducted from your Elterngeld.
- •Minimum €300/month even if you had zero income before birth. Maximum €1,800/month even if your income was very high.
65% of net incomeUp to 67% for lower earnersMin €300 · Max €1,800Up to 14 months
What is ElterngeldPlus?
- •Each Basiselterngeld month converts into 2 ElterngeldPlus months, so you get paid for longer.
- •Amount = 50% of your Basiselterngeld. The total payout over the extended period is the same, but the monthly amount is lower.
- •Maximum 28 months if both parents take the Partnerschaftsbonus — 4 months each working 24–32 h/week simultaneously.
- •Better choice if you plan to return to part-time work early, as income deduction is proportionally smaller compared to Basiselterngeld.
½ of BasiselterngeldDouble the monthsMax 28 months with bonusIdeal for part-time returners
Kindergeld, €259/month per child
- •Paid by the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern through your regional Familienkasse.
- •€259/month per child (2026 rate; €250 in 2023, €255 in 2025) — unified rate, no longer depends on child order.
- •No income limit, every family legally resident in Germany receives it regardless of earnings.
- •Paid until the child turns 18 (or up to 25 if they are in education, apprenticeship or vocational training).
- •Apply within 6 months of birth — retroactive payment only covers the last 6 months. Earlier applications are fine.
- •Apply online via ELSTER or submit a paper form at your Familienkasse. Can be paid to either parent, pick whoever has a German bank account.
- •Also: Kinderfreibetrag (tax allowance for children) — the Finanzamt automatically calculates both Kindergeld and Kinderfreibetrag at tax return time and applies whichever benefits you more. For most families, Kindergeld wins.
€259/month per childNo income limitUntil age 18 (or 25 in education)
How to Apply
1
Elterngeld- →Apply at your local Elterngeldstelle (part of Jugendamt or Landratsamt).
- →Apply immediately at birth, do not wait months. Retroactive payment only covers max 3 months before your application date.
- →Documents needed: birth certificate, last 12 payslips (before birth), hospital birth confirmation, IBAN, and your residence registration (Anmeldung).
- →Processing takes 4–8 weeks. Payments are made retroactively once approved.
2
Kindergeld- →Apply via Familienkasse online at familiar-kasse.de or through ELSTER (your tax portal).
- →Documents: birth certificate, Tax-ID (Steuer-ID) of the child, both parents' Steuer-IDs, IBAN.
- →Your child's Steuer-ID arrives by post from Bundeszentralamt für Steuern a few weeks after birth registration (Geburtsanmeldung at Standesamt).
- →Apply early — you'll only be paid from the month of application (max 6 months retroactive).
Tips for Indian families
- 🇮🇳Non-working spouse (homemaker): If your spouse was not employed before the birth, they still qualify for Elterngeld at the €300/month minimum. Apply for both parents, it adds up to €600/month minimum for 2 months if the other parent also claims.
- 📅Splitting months flexibly: Both parents can divide the 14 Basiselterngeld months however they want (e.g., 12+2, 7+7, 10+4) as long as each takes at least 2 months if you want the full 14-month entitlement.
- ✈️Planning to return to India: Elterngeld is only paid while you are resident in Germany (registered address / Anmeldung). If you deregister (Abmeldung) and move abroad, Elterngeld stops. Notify your Elterngeldstelle before you move.
- 🌍Kindergeld abroad: The rules for receiving Kindergeld while living outside Germany are complex and depend on tax treaties and your visa/residency status. Consult the Familienkasse directly if you plan to spend extended time outside Germany.
- 💼Self-employed / freelancers: If you are a Freiberufler or Gewerbetreibender, the calculation uses your profit (Gewinn), not turnover, averaged over the calendar year before birth. You may need to submit your tax assessment (Steuerbescheid) instead of payslips.
- 🏥Mutterschaftsgeld offsets Elterngeld: If your employer pays Mutterschaftsgeld (maternity pay) during the 8-week protection period, this is deducted from Elterngeld for those months — but you won't end up with less than the Mutterschaftsgeld amount.