Parental Allowance
When parents are expecting a child, one important question is how the family will be financially secure after the birth. Parental allowance plays a key role here: It replaces a portion of your income if you take a full or partial break from work after the birth.
Your way to the application
It's best to apply for parental allowance online—that's the fastest way. You can start preparing your parental allowance application even before the birth.
Benefits of the Online Application
- You will be guided step by step through the application process. We’ll only ask you the questions that apply to your specific situation.
- You’ll find out what documentation the parental allowance office needs for your case. You can upload this documentation immediately.
- You can save your information temporarily, even before your child is born.
- You can sign the application digitally and, if you wish, also receive the decision digitally.
When submitting an online application, log in with a BundID account.
To use the online parental allowance application, simply log in with your “username and password.” If you’d like to submit the application entirely paperlessly, please log in using your “Online ID.”
If you don’t have a BundID account yet, you can quickly and easily create one here:
https://id.bund.de/de
Would you like to continue working on an online application you've already started? You can find your saved applications in your account:
https://www.behoerden-serviceportal.de/onlineantraege
Apply now
Which location should I enter?
Important: Please enter the place of residence of the child for whom you are submitting the application.
If you do not live in Germany, you can only apply for parental allowance through this online service if you or the other parent works in Germany and the employer is based in North Rhine-Westphalia. In this case, please specify the location where the employer is based.
Simply explained
Parental allowance replaces a portion of your lost income if you want to be there for your child after birth and, as a result, work less or not at all for a time. Even if you had no income before the birth, you can still receive parental allowance.
Parental allowance is available in three forms:
- Basic Parental Allowance
- Parental Allowance Plus
- Partnership Bonus
You can also combine these options.
Parental leave is an unpaid break from work for mothers and fathers who care for and raise their child themselves. Parental leave and parental allowance are therefore not the same thing. However, it is often practical to combine them.
What requirements must be met?
Young parents who reside in Germany, care for their child in their own household, and do not exceed certain income limits are eligible for parental allowance. While you are receiving parental allowance, you also may not be working full-time.
In addition to a child’s biological parents, parents of stepchildren and adopted children may also apply for parental allowance. Second- or third-degree relatives may also receive parental allowance if they take on the responsibility of raising a child due to the biological parents’ serious illness, disability, or death.
What do I get?
The amount of parental allowance ranges from a minimum of 300 euros to a maximum of 1,800 euros and is based on the net income you earned before the birth of your child.
If the parents were self-employed before the birth, the parental allowance is calculated based on their income in the last completed fiscal year. This also applies to so-called mixed income, which consists of income from both employment and self-employment.
Where can I get help and advice?
Where can I get help and advice?
In North Rhine-Westphalia, parental allowance applications are processed by the districts and independent cities. The staff at your parental allowance office can advise you on all questions regarding parental allowance and parental leave—in person, by phone, or by email.
To allow us to display the contact information for your parental allowance office, please enter your ZIP code or place of residence.
Find advice
What else is important?
For more detailed information—for example, on planning parental allowance and parental leave, or on working while receiving parental allowance—please see here:
Already checked? Tips and lists for the next steps
There are a number of things to consider and take care of in connection with the birth. The following checklists provide an overview of the most important formalities you’ll need to handle before and after the birth.
Did you already know? More benefits for families
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