Elterngeld-Bescheid — your parental allowance decision

What is an Elterngeld-Bescheid?

An Elterngeld-Bescheid is the official decision from your Familienkasse (parental allowance office, usually run by your federal state) on Elterngeld under the Federal Parental Allowance Act (BEEG). It is legally binding: it states how much you receive per month, for which months after birth, and under which variant.

Elterngeld replaces part of lost income when you reduce work or stay home after a child is born. It is separate from Mutterschaftsgeld (maternity pay from health insurance around birth) and from child benefit (Kindergeld).

Who sends it — the Familienkasse

Applications go to the Familienkasse of your Bundesland (state). The letterhead names this office and your case number. Keep the delivery date — the Widerspruch deadline runs from when you received the Bescheid.

You can apply before or after birth, but payment only starts for months after the application was filed (with limited backdating rules). File early if you plan to stop work soon after birth.

Basiselterngeld vs ElterngeldPlus

• Basiselterngeld — standard parental allowance: roughly 65–67% of net income lost, minimum €300 and maximum €1,800 per month. Up to 12 months for one parent; up to 14 months if the partner also claims at least 2 months (Partnermonate).
• ElterngeldPlus — half the monthly Basis rate but payable for twice as many months (up to 28 months total when combined with Basis months). Useful if you return to part-time work early.
• Partnerschaftsbonus — extra 4 months of ElterngeldPlus if both parents work part-time (24–32 hours/week each) for a qualifying period.

The Bescheid should name which variant applies to each month in your plan.

How to read your Elterngeld Bescheid

• Monatlicher Elterngeldbetrag — amount per month
• Bezugszeitraum / Leistungsmonate — calendar months receiving payment
• Bemessungsgrundlage — average income used before birth (often last 12 months before birth month)
• Ersatzrate — replacement percentage applied to lost income
• Geschwisterbonus — €75 extra (or 10% of amount, min €75) if you already have a child under 3 or two older children
• Abzug Mutterschaftsgeld — maternity benefit offset in months where both are paid
• Restanspruch — remaining months of entitlement in your allocation

Mutterschaftsgeld and overlap

For the birth mother, Mutterschaftsgeld from the Krankenkasse covers roughly six weeks before and eight weeks after birth (longer for premature/multiple births). Elterngeld usually starts after Mutterschaftsgeld ends. The Bescheid may show an offset so total support does not double-count the same period incorrectly.

Types of decision

• Bewilligungsbescheid — approval with monthly amounts and months
• Ablehnungsbescheid — denied (income too high, residence, late application, etc.)
• Änderungsbescheid — amount or months changed after new income data
• Aufhebungsbescheid — payments stop (e.g. income above ceiling, moved abroad)
• Erstattungsbescheid / Nachforderung — repay overpaid Elterngeld

Income limits and reporting duty

Elterngeld has an income ceiling during the benefit period (statutory threshold, updated periodically — check your Bescheid year). You must report if you or your partner earn above the limit or if income changes materially during Elterngeld months.

Undeclared side income, mini-jobs, or self-employment profits are common reasons for Nachforderung years later. Report changes in writing to the Familienkasse.

Elternzeit vs Elterngeld

Elternzeit is unpaid job-protected leave you notify your employer about — up to 3 years per child. Elterngeld is money from the state during some of those months. You can take Elternzeit without Elterngeld and vice versa, but planning both together avoids gaps.

If you have no prior employment income, you may still qualify for minimum Elterngeld or need Bürgergeld instead — the Bescheid or denial letter should explain.

Filing a Widerspruch

You have one month from receipt to file a Widerspruch (§ 70 SGB X applies to social administrative acts). Send it to the Familienkasse on the letter. State your case number, Bescheid date, and why the income calculation, months, or variant is wrong. Attach payslips, tax assessments, or employer letters.

What to do — step by step

Step 1: Note delivery date and decision type (approval, denial, Nachforderung).

Step 2: Check Monatlicher Elterngeldbetrag and each Leistungsmonat listed.

Step 3: Verify Basis vs Plus vs Partnerschaftsbonus matches what you applied for.

Step 4: Confirm Mutterschaftsgeld offset and Geschwisterbonus if applicable.

Step 5: Calendar one-month Widerspruch deadline.

Step 6: Report future income changes promptly to avoid Nachforderung.

When to get help

• Monthly amount much lower than expected from your pre-birth salary.
• Partner months rejected although your partner took parental leave.
• Nachforderung for months you believe were correctly declared.
• Denied because of income but you were on Arbeitslosengeld or parental leave before birth.
• Self-employed and Bemessungsgrundlage does not match your accounts.

Key terms glossary

Still not sure what your letter wants?

• ✓ Plain English summary of monthly amount and benefit months
• ✓ Basiselterngeld vs Plus vs bonus breakdown
• ✓ Nachforderung or denial reason highlighted
• ✓ Draft Widerspruch or Familienkasse reply in German

Last updated: June 2026