ElterngeldPlus: Everything You Need to Know for 2026

ElterngeldPlus is a state benefit in Germany that supports parents financially if they reduce their working hours after the birth of their child or stop working temporarily altogether. This benefit was introduced on 1 July 2015 to give parents more flexibility in combining family and work. It is aimed in particular at mothers and fathers who want to work part-time during parental leave, as it extends the payment period of parental allowance.

While basic parental allowance (Basiselterngeld) is available for a maximum of 14 months, ElterngeldPlus can be received twice as long, i.e. (in theory) for up to 28 months. This gives parents the chance to receive support over a longer period, even if they return to work early.

ElterngeldPlus is an attractive option for parents who earn an income through part-time work, because it compensates proportionally for the resulting loss of income. In contrast to basic parental allowance, which is designed only for the first months of the child's life, ElterngeldPlus allows parents to respond more flexibly to their individual circumstances.

To make the decision between ElterngeldPlus and basic parental allowance easier, it is important to understand the main differences:

– Payment period: While basic parental allowance is paid for a maximum of 14 months if both parents receive parental allowance, ElterngeldPlus allows payment for up to 28 months. Each month of basic parental allowance is converted into two ElterngeldPlus months. Please note: months of the child's life in which the mother receives maternity benefits count as months of basic parental allowance (no choice), § 4 para. 4 sentence 3 BEEG.

Maternity pay (Mutterschaftsgeld) is offset against parental allowance, i.e. you do not receive parental allowance during this time because you are receiving maternity pay. You still receive the difference in basic parental allowance for the second month of the child's life, or, if the birth took place before the due date, the third, fourth, etc. month, on a pro rata basis.

As a result, mothers can usually only receive ElterngeldPlus from the third, possibly fourth month of the child's life at the earliest, up to the 22nd or 21st month at most.

– Amount of the benefit: The amount of ElterngeldPlus is at most half of the basic parental allowance that parents would receive without part-time income. The advantage is that it can be combined with part-time income without the parental allowance being reduced completely.

– Part-time work: ElterngeldPlus was designed specifically for parents who want to work part-time after the birth of the child. Basic parental allowance, by contrast, is geared towards full income replacement and is used mainly when a parent does not work at all.

A key aspect of ElterngeldPlus is the option of using the partnership bonus months (Partnerschaftsbonus), which give parents further months of financial support if both parents work part-time at the same time for a certain period.

In principle, all parents who meet the requirements for parental allowance are entitled to ElterngeldPlus. In concrete terms, this means parents who live in Germany in the same household as their child, look after and raise the child themselves after the birth, and work no more than 32 hours per week.

ElterngeldPlus is aimed at the following groups of people:

– Employees
– Self-employed people
– Unemployed people (under certain conditions)
– Homemakers

ElterngeldPlus is particularly attractive for parents who want to work part-time or who want to return to work quickly after a shorter break. The option of combining part-time work with ElterngeldPlus is what makes this benefit so interesting for many parents.

The amount of ElterngeldPlus depends on the income parents had before their child was born. It is at least €150 and at most €900 per month of the child's life. The calculation is based on an average income from before the birth.

For parents who work part-time while receiving ElterngeldPlus, the income from part-time work is taken into account. ElterngeldPlus covers the loss of income caused by the reduction in working hours. This makes it particularly attractive for parents who do not want to give up their income completely but still want to be financially secure.

A calculation example:
A mother who earned €2,000 net before the birth receives 65% of her income as basic parental allowance, i.e. €1,300 per month. If she opts for ElterngeldPlus and works part-time, she receives only €650 per month (50% of the basic parental allowance), but can earn up to €1,000 net on top without her ElterngeldPlus being reduced.

Example: how parents can distribute their months

Before the birth, the mother had a net income for parental allowance purposes (Elterngeld-Netto) of €2,000, the father €2,500. They would like the mother to stay at home for almost two years and the father to take two months of parental leave.

How the calculation works out: One month of basic parental allowance equals two months of ElterngeldPlus. The mother uses 2 + 20 : 2 = 12 months, the father the 2 partner months – together the 14 possible months. From the 15th month of the child's life, the mother receives ElterngeldPlus without a gap; this is a requirement. If a parent works part-time, ElterngeldPlus can even bring in more money – see parental allowance and additional income. You can plan your own distribution with the parental allowance calculator.

As of: October 2026.

To find out exactly how much ElterngeldPlus you can expect, our ElterngeldPlus calculator is a helpful tool. With a calculator like this you can enter your individual circumstances, such as part-time work and additional income, and calculate the amount you will receive each month. This is particularly useful for planning your finances optimally during parental leave.

Many parents are unsure how their part-time salary affects the amount of ElterngeldPlus. The calculator provides clarity here and gives you a quick orientation.