Current for 2026•As of: July 2026

Parental Allowance Calculator calculate entitlement.

Calculate your basic parental allowance, Parental Allowance Plus and optimal split.

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Parent 1

€
0 €10,000 €
mo.
0 mo.12 mo.

Church tax on parental allowance

Parent 2 (partner)

€
0 €10,000 €
mo.
0 mo.12 mo.

Church tax on parental allowance

None 3
None 5
One child 4 multiples

Both parents working part-time in parallel (24–32 hrs/week)

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

Total parental allowance

24,118.34 €

for 14 months

Parent 1 / month

1,800.00 €

Total: 21,600.00 €

Parent 2 / month

1,259.17 €

Total: 2,518.34 €

Total

24,118.34 €

for 14 months

Parent 1

Parental allowance net income before birth2,897.03 €
Replacement rate65%
Basic parental allowance/month1,800.00 €
Parental Allowance Plus/month900.00 €
Total (12 mo.)21,600.00 €

Parent 2 (partner)

Parental allowance net income before birth1,937.19 €
Replacement rate65%
Basic parental allowance/month1,259.17 €
Parental Allowance Plus/month629.59 €
Total (2 mo.)2,518.34 €

Notes

  • • Partner months: both parents must receive parental allowance for at least 2 months for the full 14 months.

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

Important note

These calculations are for non-binding information only and do not replace professional tax advice. All information without guarantee. Learn more

Sources & calculation basis

Our calculations are based on the following official sources (as of: July 2026):

Related guides

Planning Parental Leave

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
4 additional Parental Allowance Plus months 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

Example: €3,200 net income before birth

Example: €3,200 net income before birth
PositionBetrag
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

Factors that affect your parental allowance

  1. Net income: The average of the 12 months before birth/maternity protection forms the assessment basis
  2. Tax class: Switching at least 7 months before maternity protection can increase parental allowance
  3. Income level: Below €1,000 the replacement rate rises up to 100%, above €1,200 it drops to 65%
  4. Siblings: Children under 3 years, or 2 children under 6 years, provide a bonus

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 birth 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

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%.

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.

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.

Yes, since 1 April 2024 an income limit of €175,000 in taxable annual income applies to couples (€200,000 for single parents). If this is exceeded, there is no entitlement to 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.

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