Apply for parental allowance

If you look after your child after the birth, the parental allowance compensates for part of the loss of income.

Parental allowance is a benefit for parents of infants and young children. It replaces part of the lost income if you want to be there for your child after the birth and interrupt or reduce your work. Parental allowance is also available for parents who had no income at all before the birth.

There are three types of parental allowance:

• Basic parental allowance
• Parental allowance plus
• Partnership bonus

Parental Allowance Plus and the partnership bonus provide particular support if you share the work and family responsibilities after the birth.

Even if you are a single parent, you can apply for the different variants. Parental allowance is also available for adopted children and children in foster care.

As parents, you can decide for yourself who receives parental allowance and for how long. In the application, you must specify the months of your child's life for which you would like to apply for parental allowance and which parental allowance variant you choose.

The amount of parental allowance is calculated individually. The calculation is based on the income you had before the birth and which ceases after the birth. If you had no income before the birth or no income after the birth, you will receive a minimum amount. For Basic Parental Allowance, this is at least EUR 300.00 per month, and for Parental Allowance Plus, it is at least EUR 150.00 per month.

Tip: You can use the parental allowance calculator from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs to help you plan and calculate.

Regional parental allowance offices are responsible.

Please contact your regional parental allowance office.

• Application form
• Birth certificate of the child (in exceptional cases, another suitable document if necessary)

Further documents if necessary:

• Identity card or residence permit
• Proof of recognition or establishment of paternity
• Proof of earned income during the assessment period
• Declaration of expected earned income in the reference period
• Certificate from the health insurance fund regarding maternity benefit and certificate from the employer regarding the maternity benefit allowance
• Other proof of income during the reference period

The type and scope of the documents may vary depending on your individual situation. There may also be differences between the parental allowance offices. You should therefore check your application documents for further information. If you have any questions, you can contact your local parental allowance office.

The birth certificate must be marked "For application for parental allowance".

You can submit the application using the (free) online application form.

The necessary queries are individually tailored to your details in the online portal. The signature requirement does not apply to online applications either. An electronic signature is possible using an e-ID. The supporting documents required for processing the application can be uploaded in the online application, regardless of the signature form. Alternatively, both a print version of the online application and a print service are available.

The current paper application form for Hesse is available on the "Familienatlas" website, the portal for families in Hesse.

You can receive parental allowance if you meet the following requirements:

• You look after and bring up your child yourself.
• You have a place of residence in Germany or usually stay here.
• You live with your child in a shared household.
• You are either not employed at all or generally do not work more than 32 hours per week.
  • There are several exceptions to the limit of 32 hours per week, for example if you are on vacation or if you are studying or training.
• If you were born by March 31, 2024: Your taxable income did not exceed EUR 250,000. For parents, the limit is usually EUR 300,000.
• For births after April 1, 2024: Your taxable income did not exceed EUR 200,000. This limit applies to single parents and couples.
• At birth from April 1, 2025: Your taxable income did not exceed EUR 175,000. This limit applies to single parents and couples.

• Appeal
  You can find more information on how to lodge an objection in your parental allowance notification.
• Complaint to the social court

To receive parental allowance, you must submit a written or digital application to your parental allowance office.

Please enclose the documents and evidence requested in the application and sign the application. With the exception of single parents, both parents must sign the application.
Submit the application documents in person or by post to your parental allowance office.

If there are any changes during the months of entitlement (for example, because you have increased or reduced your weekly working hours), you must inform the relevant parental allowance office. They will decide whether you are still entitled to parental allowance or whether you have to pay back part of it.

You can only apply for parental allowance after the birth.

It is best to submit the application within the first 3 months of your child's life, as parental allowance is paid retroactively for a maximum of 3 months.

You can obtain information from the relevant parental allowance office.

There are no costs.

If you have a complaint that the parental allowance office has not been able to resolve, you can contact the relevant supervisory authority in your federal state.