More about Elterngeld
Detailed explanations for every input, the maths behind them, and the underlying statute — hand-written, with sources cited.
How does the Elterngeld calculator work?
The Buronia Elterngeld calculator estimates your monthly base Elterngeld in real time. Three inputs — pre-birth net income, number of children born at once, and whether you qualify for the sibling bonus — drive a live calculation following § 2 BEEG. There's no Calculate button: change a slider and the headline updates within ~120ms.
The URL carries every input as a query parameter (e.g. ?net_income=2400&twins=1&has_sibling_bonus=false) — share it and the page reconstructs the same scenario. No personal data stored, no sign-in, no tracking. CC0 licence for editorial use.
How is Elterngeld 2026 calculated?
The core formula:
Elterngeld = pre-birth net × replacement rateReplacement rate depends on average net income from the 12 calendar months before birth (or before maternity leave):
- 67% if net income ≤ €1,200/month
- Sliding 67% → 65% between €1,200 and €1,240 (1pp drop per €20)
- 65% at or above €1,240
Result is then capped to the floor (€300 minimum, Mindestelterngeld) and ceiling (€1,800 maximum, Höchstbetrag).
Sibling bonus (Geschwisterbonus): +10% of base, minimum €75. Requirement: another child under 3, or two+ children under 6 in the household.
Multiple-birth supplement (Mehrlingszuschlag): +€300 per additional twin/triplet child. Twins → +€300 once, triplets → +€600.
Worked example: €2,400 net, no sibling bonus, single birth → 2,400 × 0.65 = €1,560/month.
Who is entitled to Elterngeld?
Per § 1 BEEG you are entitled if you:
- have residence or habitual stay in Germany
- live in one household with the child
- care for the child yourself
- work no more than 32 hours per week
- had pre-birth taxable income ≤ €250,000 (single parents) / €175,000 (couples)
Both parents can claim Elterngeld — either simultaneously or in sequence. To unlock the full 14 months as a couple, the partner must take at least 2 of them; otherwise the household gets only 12.
Self-employed applicants are assessed against the taxable income from their last assessment period. The calculator simplifies the input to "net income/month"; self-employed should enter their annual taxable income / 12.
How to apply for Elterngeld
The application goes to the Elterngeldstelle for your federal state — usually at the youth-welfare office, in Bavaria at the Zentren Bayern Familie und Soziales (ZBFS). Find the address via the Familienportal des Bundes.
Important deadlines:
- Elterngeld can be claimed retroactively for at most 3 months of life — don't wait too long.
- Ideally apply within the first 4 weeks after birth.
Required documents:
- Child's birth certificate (the Elterngeld-purpose copy)
- Income proofs from the 12 months before birth (payslips, or self-employed tax assessment)
- Health-insurance certificate of maternity-protection benefits
- Declaration of the planned split between the parents
Processing time: 2–6 weeks depending on state. Buronia helps prefill — go to the Elterngeld overview.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as net income? Earned income after deduction of wage tax, solidarity surcharge, church tax, and statutory social-security contributions — i.e. what actually lands in your account. The calculator simplifies; the Elterngeldstelle computes exactly per § 2c BEEG.
Is Elterngeld counted against Bürgergeld? Yes, but with a €300 allowance — €300 of the Elterngeld stays disregarded.
What is the sibling bonus exactly? +10% of the calculated base, minimum €75. The bonus runs as long as the older sibling is still under 3 (or two+ siblings under 6).
Can self-employed people get Elterngeld? Yes — the basis is the taxable income from your last tax return. The €300 minimum applies even when there was no or very low pre-birth income.
Ready to apply?
Buronia helps you prepare the full application for Elterngeld — every mandatory field pre-filled, every attachment checked, one clean submission to the responsible authority.