Parental Allowance Calculator
Calculate your basic parental allowance, Parental Allowance Plus and optimal split.
As of September 2026Basis: §§ 2–4c BEEG (Federal Parental Allowance Act)Calculated in your browser – your inputs are not transmitted and are kept on this device only if you choose
Parental allowance type
Family
Monthly salary before the birth · tap or drag
Monthly salary before the birth · tap or drag
Parent 1: , tax class , church tax, months of allowance.
Parent 2 (partner): , tax class , church tax, months of allowance.
Living in .
More detailsSiblings: 0 under 3, 0 aged 3–6 · One child
Multiples
Maternity benefit after the birth (parent 1)
Total parental allowance
for 14 months
€24,118
€24,118Together €24,118 for 14 months. Parent 1 receives €1,800 a month (12 months), parent 2 receives €1,259 a month (2 months).
Net before → allowance per month
Parent 1replaces 65%
Parent 2 (partner)replaces 65%
RZ-26 · headon.pro
Month planner
Tap a month to set how long each parent receives the allowance. Parent 2 is shown after parent 1.
- Basic allowance (1 month of life)
- Partnership bonus (Parental Allowance Plus)
- Partner months
- Numbers = child's month of life
Plan parental leave for these months: notice deadlines and protection against dismissal
What you can do
Partner months: both parents must receive parental allowance for at least 2 months for the full 14 months.
Partnership bonus: +4 monthsup to €6,118
Both parents working part-time in parallel (24–32 hrs/week)
How this was calculated
Parent 1
- Parental allowance net income before birth
- €2,897.03
- Replacement rate
- 65%
- Allowance per month
- €1,800.00
- Parental Allowance Plus/month
- €900.00
- Total (12 mo.)
- €21,600.00
Parent 2 (partner)
- Parental allowance net income before birth
- €1,937.20
- Replacement rate
- 65%
- Allowance per month
- €1,259.18
- Parental Allowance Plus/month
- €629.59
- Total (2 mo.)
- €2,518.36
- Joint taxable income (estimated)
- €67,893.00
- Income limit
- €175,000.00
- Total parental allowance
- €24,118.36
Calculation is based on:
- Parental allowance net income under the flat-rate method (Sections 2c–2f BEEG): gross − €102.50 allowance − taxes − 21% flat-rate social contributions
- Replacement rate: 65-67% (up to 100% for low income)
- At least €300 (basic) / €150 (Plus) per month
- At most €1,800 (basic) / €900 (Plus) per month
- Self-employed: profit ÷ 12, tax as for tax class IV, without the employee lump sum (Sections 2d, 2e BEEG).
Parental allowance 2026
- Basic parental allowance: €300 - €1,800/month
- Parental Allowance Plus: €150 - €900/month
- Max. 14 months (12 + 2 partner months)
- Income limit: €175,000/year
Parental allowance 2026: everything you need to know
Parental allowance (Elterngeld) is a state benefit for parents who care for their child themselves after birth. It replaces part of the lost income – between 65% and 67% of the previous net salary.
The calculation is based on the average net income of the 12 months before birth (or before the start of maternity protection).
The two variants of parental allowance
- Basic parental allowance
- 65-67% of net, min. €300, max. €1,800. Duration: 12-14 months.
- Parental Allowance Plus
- Half the amount, double the duration. Ideal for part-time work during parental leave.
- Partnership bonus
- Up to 4 additional Parental Allowance Plus months (2-4 months, § 4b BEEG) if both parents work 24-32 hrs/week.
- Sibling bonus
- +10% or at least €75 for additional children under 3 years in the household.
How your parental allowance is calculated
Factors that affect your parental allowance
- 1Net incomeThe average of the 12 months before birth/maternity protection forms the assessment basis
- 2Tax classSwitching at least 7 months before maternity protection can increase parental allowance
- 3Income levelBelow €1,000 the replacement rate rises up to 100%, above €1,200 it drops to 65%
- 4SiblingsChildren under 3 years, or 2 children under 6 years, provide a bonus
- Average net (12 months)
- €3,200.00
- Replacement rate (income > €1,200)
- × 65%
- Calculated parental allowance
- €2,080.00
- Maximum (cap)
- €1,800.00
- Monthly basic parental allowance
- €1,800.00
Partner months: 12 + 2 months
Parental allowance can be received for a total of 14 months if both parents take at least 2 months of parental leave. One parent alone receives a maximum of 12 months.
Optimisation tips
- Tax class switch
- Switch to class III at least 7 months before maternity protection for higher parental allowance
- Split parental leave
- Both parents at least 2 months for the full 14-month entitlement
- Use Parental Allowance Plus
- Often more advantageous than basic parental allowance for part-time work
- Apply on time
- Parental allowance is paid a maximum of 3 months retroactively
Frequently asked questions about parental allowance
Key facts on basic parental allowance and Parental Allowance Plus
How high is parental allowance?
Parental allowance is 65-67% of the previous net income, at least €300 and at most €1,800 per month. For low income (below €1,000), the replacement rate can rise up to 100%.
How long can I receive parental allowance?
Basic parental allowance can be received for 12-14 months (14 months if both parents take at least 2 months of parental leave). Parental Allowance Plus can be received twice as long, but is half the amount.
What is the difference between basic parental allowance and Parental Allowance Plus?
Basic parental allowance is the full amount (65-67% of net) for up to 14 months. Parental Allowance Plus is half of that but can be received twice as long. Parental Allowance Plus is ideal if you want to work part-time during parental leave.
Is there an income limit for parental allowance?
Yes, for births from 1 April 2025 onwards a uniform income limit of €175,000 in taxable annual income applies - to couples and single parents alike (§ 1 (8) BEEG). If this is exceeded, there is no entitlement to parental allowance.
Can I change my tax class to get more parental allowance?
Yes, a tax class change can increase parental allowance. It should be done at least 7 months before maternity protection to be fully taken into account. Switching to tax class III increases net income and thus parental allowance.