Parental allowance

Basic parental allowance is paid to fathers and mothers for a maximum of 14 months. Both are free to divide the period between them. Employees are generally entitled to maternity benefits for 8 weeks after the birth. These are deducted in full from the parental allowance. The duration of parental allowance is reduced accordingly. If the total amount of maternity benefits is less than the parental allowance, the difference is paid out as parental allowance. The amount of parental allowance is determined by the average monthly income earned by the parent providing care in the year prior to the birth, with a minimum of 300.00 euros and a maximum of 1,800.00 euros per month. For previous income of between 1,000 and 1,200 euros, the parental allowance replaces 67% of the income lost after the birth. For incomes below 1,000 euros, the replacement rate increases gradually up to 100%. For net incomes of 1,200 euros or more, the replacement rate falls to 65%.

Parents of children born on or after 01.07.2015 can receive Parental Allowance Plus instead of the previous parental allowance (basic parental allowance) or combine both forms. Mothers and fathers who wish to work part-time while receiving parental allowance have the option of receiving parental allowance for longer than before (Parental Allowance Plus). They receive parental allowance for twice as long at a maximum of half the amount. If both parents decide to work 25 to 30 hours a week for four months at the same time, there is an additional partnership bonus in the form of four additional months of Parental Allowance Plus per parent. When claiming Parental Allowance Plus, the income-dependent parental allowance is limited to half of the basic parental allowance due in the event of a complete loss of income. The minimum amounts are halved and therefore amount to a minimum of 150 euros and a maximum of 900 euros per month.

Parental allowance must be applied for at the relevant application office, which varies from state to state. In Baden-Württemberg, the application office is the L-Bank, Staatsbank für Baden-Württemberg in 76113 Karlsruhe.

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