Elterngeld replaces 65–100 % of the staying-home parent's net income for up to 14 months, and Kindergeld pays 259 € per child on top — for years. Model your split before you talk to the Elterngeldstelle.
Your family's first year — Elterngeld + Kindergeld
21.958 €
1.300 €/month Elterngeld for you (65 % of your net) + 1.625 €/month in the 2 partner months + 259 €/month Kindergeld — every month, for years.
Modedetail level
Your Elterngeld monthsBasiselterngeld, max 12
Partner monthsunlock months 13–14
Children in the householddrives Kindergeld
Elterngeld — you
1.300 €/mo
12 months · 15.600 € total
Partner months
1.625 €/mo
2 months · 3.250 € total
Kindergeld
259 €/mo
259 € × 1 child · until 18 (25 in education)
Where the first-year money comes from
21.958 € across the first 12 months (Elterngeld months may extend into month 14)
ElterngeldPlus option: stretch the same budget — 650 €/month for 24 months instead of 1.300 €/month for 12. Worth it when you work part-time (24–32 h/week) during the Elterngeld phase, because part-time income reduces Basiselterngeld faster than Plus.
Keine Rechts- oder Sozialleistungsberatung — general information calculated from the statutory BEEG formulas only. The Elterngeldstelle decides your actual claim; your "Elterngeld-Netto" differs slightly from your payslip net (flat-rate deductions). Single parents can take all 14 months alone — this calculator models the 12 + 2 couple split.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
Last updated: 2026-07-19
Your exact numbers travel in the link.