Dividing Parental Allowance: How to Find the Right Model as a Couple

The anticipation of a new baby grows every day. At the same time, many organizational tasks arise during pregnancy. A central question for expectant parents is how to divide the parental allowance months so that it fits their family best. Here you will find an overview of the different options, illustrative models, and practical tips for planning together.

Basics: What Expectant Parents Can Know

The system surrounding parental leave offers families a lot of flexibility. There are different building blocks that you can combine according to your needs. The basic parental allowance (Basiselterngeld) cushions part of the lost income. If both parents take a break, this money is usually available for up to 14 months. One parent can claim a maximum of twelve months for themselves.

ElterngeldPlus is another valuable option. The monthly amount is lower here, but it is paid for twice as long. This is particularly practical if you want to return to work part-time early on. In addition, there is the partnership bonus (Partnerschaftsbonus). This rewards couples with extra months if both work part-time simultaneously to a certain extent. This allows you to gradually combine family and career again.

Popular Models for Dividing the Time

Many families wonder how other couples organize this time. Here are three frequently chosen paths that can serve as inspiration:

The Shared Start

Many couples use the first weeks after birth together to settle in as a family and recover from the birth. Please note: The rules for the parallel receipt of basic parental allowance have recently changed. Usually, simultaneous receipt is only possible for one month in the child's first year of life. A combination with ElterngeldPlus often offers more leeway here.

The Classic Division

Often, one parent takes the majority of the months, while the other pauses completely for two months. These two months can be wonderfully used to plan a longer family vacation together or to accompany the child's settling-in period at daycare.

The Half-and-Half Model

More and more families divide the time exactly. For example, everyone stays home for seven months. With ElterngeldPlus, this time can be stretched even further. This model promotes a very equal bond with the child right from the start.

Practical Tips for Your Planning

The right decision depends on many personal factors. These steps will help you gain clarity:

1. Take Stock of Your Finances

List your fixed monthly expenses. Consider together how much money you really need a month to live comfortably. This gives you a secure framework for planning.

2. Do a Trial Calculation Online

Use the official parental allowance calculator provided by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs. There you can play through various scenarios and immediately see how choosing basic parental allowance or ElterngeldPlus affects your monthly budget.

3. Involve Your Employer Early

Clarify in good time how flexible your workplace is when returning part-time. An open conversation with your manager helps to avoid misunderstandings and find mutual solutions.

4. Remain Flexible

Some plans change once the baby is born. Find out about the deadlines for retroactively swapping months or switching from the basic variant to the Plus variant. Certain adjustments are still possible even after the application has been submitted.

5. Look After Your Own Health

The early days with a baby are beautiful, but they also bring challenges. Exhaustion is an issue in many families. If you notice that the burden is getting too heavy or if you have questions about development, do not hesitate to seek help. Your pediatrician is a reliable point of contact for concerns about the child. For maternal exhaustion during the postpartum period, the gynecological practice is the right contact.

6. Prepare the Paperwork

Fill out the application as much as possible before the birth. Collect all necessary salary statements in a folder. When the baby arrives, all you have to do is enter the date of birth and attach the birth certificate.

Common Questions from Parents

Can we change the application later?

Yes, adjustments are possible within a certain framework. As long as the requested months have not yet been paid out, you can submit changes to the parental allowance office.

Can we both stay home at the same time?

This is generally possible. However, with the basic parental allowance, there are strict time limits in the first year of life. ElterngeldPlus offers significantly more flexibility for shared family time here.

Summary

• Combine basic parental allowance and ElterngeldPlus to suit your daily life.
• Calculate your financial needs early and honestly.
• Use official online calculators to compare different models.
• Prepare the application and all documents during pregnancy.