Checklist: Financial and formal aspects of the birth

You can apply for maternity benefit from your statutory health insurance provider. It is usually paid six weeks before the expected date of birth and eight weeks after the birth (the period is extended after the birth in the case of premature or multiple births). Privately insured women, women with family insurance and women with a mini-job can receive a one-off payment from the Federal Social Security Office.

Parental leave is unpaid leave from work to care for your child. Parental allowance is a state income replacement benefit that is paid during this time.

• You must apply for parental leave with your employer (at least 7 weeks before it starts).
• You apply for parental allowance at the relevant parental allowance office.

You should apply for parental allowance as soon as possible after the birth. As a rule, retroactive payment is only possible for a maximum of three months. The sooner you apply after the birth, the faster the payment will be made. The online application for parental allowance can be found here on the Familienportal.NRW.

You can apply for child benefit at the Family Benefits Office of the Federal Employment Agency. The application can only be made after the birth, as you will need your child's tax identification number. Child benefit is usually paid from the month of birth.

If the parents are not married, paternity should be acknowledged. In addition, a declaration of joint parental responsibility can be made. Both can be done before or after the birth at the youth welfare office or, for a fee, at a notary's office. Early clarification makes many other formalities easier.