Antragscenter

What belongs to the Elterngeld application and what it costs

Elterngeld

Three versions, one of which applies. Your federal state decides which.

1 Where you live and how you work

This means the place where you are registered — not the child's place of birth and not the place where you work. If you live abroad, choose the federal state where you last lived.

If both wish to receive Elterngeld, each submits their own application with their own signature. If only one applies, it stays one application — the other then only signs to confirm that they know about it.

How did you work before the birth?

This means the twelve calendar months before the month of the birth. Anyone who was employed needs a certificate from the employer. Anyone who was self-employed needs a statement of profit. Anyone who had both needs both.

What nationality do you hold?

Without German nationality, the application also asks about the residence permit. This applies to nationals of an EU country as well.

Tick this also if only the other parent lives or works abroad. Likewise if you are temporarily posted abroad for a German employer.

Your case needs these official forms

Determined automatically from your answers — before it comes to the PDF.

  • Geburtsurkunde des Kindes im OriginalAttach a supporting document

    The registry office issues several copies of the birth certificate. One of them bears a note that it is intended for the Elterngeld application — that is exactly the one needed, and as an original, not a copy. For twins or triplets you need one for each child. Ask the registry office expressly for the copy for Elterngeld; the copy for Kindergeld is a different one.

How things go on once everything is filled in

The application is not transmitted digitally. You print it out, sign it by hand and submit it to the Elterngeldstelle yourself. You do these steps yourself — no longer here on the screen.

  1. Print everything out

    Print out all the sheets you receive here: the Elterngeld application and every annex. White paper in DIN A4 format, printed on one side. Do not fasten anything together and do not staple anything.

  2. Sign by hand

    Sign wherever there is a line for a signature — with a ballpoint pen, not on the screen. The other parent signs as well. If they are applying for Elterngeld themselves, they sign their own application. If they are not applying, they sign yours. This confirms that they know about the application.

  3. Enclose the birth certificate as an original

    For Elterngeld the birth certificate is required as an original, not as a copy. The registry office issues a special copy for this, which states that it is intended for Elterngeld. Ask for it expressly there — the copy for Kindergeld is a different one. For twins or triplets you need one for each child.

  4. Pass on the sheets that others fill in

    The employer's certificate is not filled in by you. Print out the sheet and hand it in to the human resources department — where the payroll is also prepared. It has to come back with a signature and a company stamp. Then put it with your application.

  5. Attach supporting documents

    Enclose the remaining supporting documents as copies — payslips, the health insurance fund's certificate about the maternity benefit, and for self-employment the income tax assessment. You may black out anything you do not need. Only the birth certificate goes with it as an original.

  6. Keep a copy for yourself

    Copy or photograph the complete form set before you hand it in — including the birth certificate you are giving away. That way you can look up later what you stated.

  7. Submit it to the Elterngeldstelle yourself

    Take the application to the responsible Elterngeldstelle or send it there by post. The office has a different name in every federal state. In Baden-Württemberg it is the L-Bank, in Bayern the Zentrum Bayern Familie und Soziales. In Nordrhein-Westfalen it is the district or the independent city. You can find which one is responsible for you through the federal family portal: www.familienportal.de. Search there for the Elterngeldstelle and enter your postcode. The application is not sent from here. What counts is the day it arrives at the office.

    Elterngeldstelle