Basiselterngeld only
€15,340
- Runs to month of life
- 14
- Average per month
- €1,278
- Highest monthly amount
- €1,300
Twelve monthly amounts for one parent and two partner months for the other. The highest monthly figure over the shortest time.
Compare Elterngeld scenarios
The same monthly amounts can be arranged very differently. Three arrangements sit side by side here — all spending the same budget, so any difference in the result really does come from the rules and not from one option being handed more months.
The comparison needs the Elterngeld-Netto of both parents. If you do not know it yet, work it out in the Elterngeld calculator first.
Your result
ElterngeldPlus only
€16,640
- Runs to month of life
- 28
- Average per month
- €640
- Highest monthly amount
- €650
The same budget with every monthly amount converted into two ElterngeldPlus months. Half the amount, twice as long.
Mixed
€13,000
- Runs to month of life
- 18
- Average per month
- €813
- Highest monthly amount
- €1,300
Basiselterngeld while there is no income, then ElterngeldPlus for the part-time phase. This is what ElterngeldPlus was designed for.
With part-time work ElterngeldPlus pays more here. The reason is § 4a Abs. 2 BEEG: the ceiling for ElterngeldPlus is measured against the Basiselterngeld you would get with no income, so it does not fall when you earn.
14 of 14 allocated
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The numbers in detail
| Basiselterngeld only | ElterngeldPlus only | Mixed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | €15,340 | €16,640 | €13,000 |
| Runs to month of life | 14 | 28 | 18 |
| Average per month | €1,278 | €640 | €813 |
| Highest monthly amount | €1,300 | €650 | €1,300 |
Timeline
From maternity protection to the final month of payment. Each bar is one month of the child’s life.
Maternity benefit is offset The first months of life are consumed by Mutterschaftsgeld: it is offset in full against Elterngeld, so no Elterngeld is paid in those months. The monthly amounts are spent all the same and cannot be moved to later — the most expensive planning mistake there is with Elterngeld.
Basiselterngeld only
Legend
Parent 1 · BasiselterngeldParent 1 · ElterngeldPlusParent 2Maternity benefit offset
ElterngeldPlus only
Legend
Parent 1 · BasiselterngeldParent 1 · ElterngeldPlusParent 2Maternity benefit offset
Mixed
Legend
Parent 1 · BasiselterngeldParent 1 · ElterngeldPlusParent 2Maternity benefit offset
Common questions
Do I get more money in total with ElterngeldPlus?
Only if you work while receiving it. With no earnings the totals are identical — ElterngeldPlus is then exactly half the amount over twice the time. With part-time work ElterngeldPlus can pay substantially more, because its ceiling is tied to the Basiselterngeld you would get with no income and does not fall along with your entitlement.
How many months are we entitled to?
Twelve monthly amounts for both parents together, plus two partner months where both reduce their income from employment. A single parent with sole custody can take all 14. One monthly amount of Basiselterngeld converts into two ElterngeldPlus months.
Can we both draw Basiselterngeld at the same time?
For births from 1 April 2024, only in one single month of the child’s first twelve. Exceptions apply for multiple births, premature births and a disability in the child.
How long can ElterngeldPlus run?
To the 32nd month of life. From the 15th month onwards, though, only if at least one parent draws ElterngeldPlus without a gap.
Why do the first months show zero?
Because Mutterschaftsgeld from the day of birth is offset in full against Elterngeld (§ 3 Abs. 1 BEEG). Those months still count as taken and cannot be saved for later.
Assumptions and limits
- Months are allocated sequentially — one parent, then the other. Other arrangements are lawful; this is the commonest and it satisfies § 4 Abs. 1 Satz 3 BEEG automatically.
- The partnership bonus under § 4b BEEG is not included.
- Any part-time income is assumed to be the same across all months of payment.
- All three options allocate the same budget, so the comparison means something.
Related guides
Basiselterngeld or ElterngeldPlus?The short answer: if you do not work while receiving it, the two come to the same money, just spread differently. If you do work, ElterngeldPlus is almost always better. The reason is a rule that very few people know about.Tax class before the birthElterngeld is computed from a hypothetical net figure, and your tax class feeds into it. Change class in good time and you can raise your Elterngeld noticeably. Change it too late and nothing happens at all.
Other calculators
Elterngeld calculatorTell us what you earned before the birth and we will work out your Elterngeld step by step, naming the statute behind each rule. The first step matters most, because the Elterngeld-Netto is not the net figure on your payslip.Maternity benefit calculatorHow long does maternity protection last, and who pays what during it? Your health insurer pays at most 13 euros a day — by far the larger part comes from your employer. Both halves are shown side by side.