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A selection of the most recently discussed articles by our community
- Directness - Not Rude, but Honest
- Right Time, Right Place
- Bilingual Kindergartens and Day Care
- We Are The People
- Weimar Republic
For the last few decades, Germans have been worried about declining birth rates and increasing life expectancy and the obvious demographical problems caused by these two trends. For that reason, they’ve instituted a raft of generous programs to encourage couples to go forth and multiply, some of which you can participate in, even if you’re not a citizen or permanent resident.
In addition to excellent care, pregnant women and new mothers receive additional benefits related to health care, including prenatal and nursery care. One of the most outstanding benefits is 14 weeks of paid maternity leave - six weeks before the expected birth and eight after.
The government also provides a number of other benefits to new parents, including the possibility of taking a 36-month postnatal leave. During these three years, the parent who stays home with the child can receive a small monthly allowance from the government. More importantly, the stay-at-home parent is protected from dismissal from his or her job throughout this entire period. In addition, the government provides monthly allowances for each child, based on the couple’s income and the number of children they have.
The information in this article is out of date for babies born on or after 1 January 2007.
The primary change to the old system is the addition of a fairly generous paid parental leave. The new Elterngeld resembles – and is based somewhat on – the Swedish system of parental leave. Under the new system, the designated parent receives up to 67% of his/her usual net income per month, based on an
average of the 12 months' earnings prior to the birth. This sum will not be
greater than 1800 €, nor will it be less than 300 € per month, regardless of
previous income (or lack thereof). Benefits are offered for the 12
months following the birth, or for 14 months if both parents wish to take at
least 2 months each. Unlike in the Swedish system, where this time can be banked and saved for a rainy day, so to speak, the German system is a bit more rigid. However, the 12-14 months may apparently be adapted in one way, i.e. the leave period may be doubled if the benefits recipient(s) is prepared to accept benefits at half the usual level.
Recipients may also work up to 30 hours per week while
receiving benefits, but benefits then decrease in relation to current income.
There are a number of additional details which may apply (or not) to
individual cases, but this is the core of the new system, which applies to anyone living or working legally in Germany.
Some of the pre-exisiting rights and "special offers" continue to apply, including the Right to unpaid parental leave for up to 3 years continues to apply, as does the Child Allowance (Kindergeld = 154 €/month).
This information is all very useful but does the same apply for freelancers?
I have been living in Berlin germany since 2002 and working as a freelance English teacher with a regular healthy income. (My annual tax payment is on average 3000 euros)
I am now 3 months pregnant and want to stay here in Berlin.
Can anyone help me with my question.......am I entitled to parental allowance or muttergeld?
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
The information on the site is interesting, and it got me wondering, I'm here with my Husband, who's working for UK Military, we already claim the 'top up' of Child Benefit, and last year had a Baby, can anyone tell me if I'm entitled to any other benefits? Can I claim Muttergeld?
To both Sharon and Jane,
If you are paying into the German social system, then you would be entitled to Kindergeld (which is currently 164 Euro monthly per child). This is usually paid until your child reaches 18 years. You can pick up the forms at the local Familenkasse (which is usually the same address as the Employment Office). Here is a pdf with a list of the offices
http://www.arbeitsagentur.de/zentraler-Content/A09-Kindergeld/A091-steuerrechtliche-Leistungen/Publikation/pdf/Ortsverzeichnis-der-Familienkassen.pdf
Good luck
David
I am wondering if the 67% still applies if currently I am working 2 jobs, both half time, and both are 3 year contracts?
Thanks!
I am due to have a baby in Germany in Jan 2010 and have been told by a friend she recieved a benefit called ' enseunsgeld' Sorry if that is spelt wrongly but I cannot find any info on it anywhere.
My husband is UK military and I do not work,nor have I done since moving here.
I am aware of Kindergeld and I am entitled to that but am nsure of any other benefits.
Your help is greatly appreciated..
Hi Emma,
Hmmm. Enseunsgeld is not a word in German. Please ask you friend to write out the word and then we can help.
David
David,
Emma meint "Erziehungsgeld"
Angie
Ok, Erziehungsgeld it is.
There are already been some posts on this topic (see above) but I am also posting a document in English that I found from the federal government which gives an overview of the system.
The link is http://www.newcomers-network.de/forums/index.php?showtopic=1409
Hope this helps
David
Thanks David And Angie, You are both stars.
Emma.
Hello to all. My wife and I have just arrived Germany (Hamburg) 1 month ago. Both of us are foreign students (from Iran), I'm going to finish my masters next year and she started her new bachelors. So, we are not permanent residents here and also we don't pay any taxes at least till next year.
We are going to have a baby in 2011, I would like to know if we are entitled to any benefits from government (like kindergeld or muttergeld). Both of us have insurance with AOK here and pay monthly for that.
Thank you,
Seyed
Hi Seyed,
You probably do qualify if you are paying into the German social system, but the best thing is to go to the local registration office. In Hambug you are lucky because there is a Welcome Center which should be able to answer your questions
http://www.welcome.hamburg.de/english/welcome-center/
All the best
David
Hallo!
I am Italian, i live in Munich and i work in Frankfurt...
But i can't deal with all this travelling now that i am pregnant (though i am only at the 3rd month). is there a way i can get an early maternity leave or something?
If you want to take early maternity leave, that would be up to your employer to decide. The legal requirements are 6 weeks before delivery date and 8 weeks after.
Hope this helps
David
I am married to a German girl who is expecting our second child in mid July. I have not worked in Germany as I have been looking after our first son. If she takes the year off work and claims Elterngeld at 67% of net for the last year we will have an income of only about 800 Euro a month. Our rent alone is 650 Warm. Even with the 300 Muttergeld that is not enough to survive. Can we get extra help with rents etc. Thank you
Hi Jolyon,
You might be able to apply for extra money, but you will have to talk to the authorities about this ... I expect it would be the Sozialamt. Germany has a generous social network, but there are many specifics that need to be considered. Hope this helps.
David
I am very interested in knowing more about the child care support as I will work in Frankfurt as research fellow with my family in september 2010. I am holding a working visa and all my family members, including 2 kids, 3 months old and 3 years old and my husband will stay with me as dependents. Just want to know if there is any child care allowance for my case or any other support from the government.
Hi Mary Lee,
You should be able to qualify to monthly allowances per child (Kindergeld) which is 184 euros per child.
David
Dear David,
Thank you for your information. By the way, is it very difficult to get a place in kindergarten in Frankfurt? Can the monthly allowance be used for such purpose? I am worrying about my elder daughter if she can't get a place after her arrival. I might afraid that it takes a year until she gets an offer.
Mary
I arrived in Germany in Jan10 and staying since with my family (wife and my 2yr. old son). Am paying into the German Tax system and have applied for KIndergeld. Yesterday I received a letter from Familienkasse and now I have two questions:
1.When can I expect the money to be transferred to my bank account?
2.Is there any other allowances like Elterngeld applicable in my case?
Best Regards,
Abhijit
Hi Abhijit,
In regards to your second question, there are also tax deductions for children which can be applied when you file your income tax return at the end of the year. Hope this helps. David