Parental allowance compensates for loss of income following the birth of a child. It amounts to 65-67% of the average monthly net income (after taxes, social security payments and tax allowances) available prior to birth upt to a maximum of 1,800 EUR. The minimum is 300 EUR, which also applies to non-working parents. Parental allowance is paid to the father and mother for a maximum of 14 months. Both are eligible to divide up the period between them. Neither parent may claim for more than 12 months. A further 2 months may be paid if income is lost during this period and the partner is involved in caring for the child.
Single parents drawing parental allowance to compensate for loss of income are eligible for the full 14 months parental allowance due to the lack of a partner.

Eligibility:
Mothers and fathers are eligible for parental allowance if

• they care for and educate their children themselves after birth
• they are not employed for more than 30 hours per week
• they live together with their children in one abode and
• are resident or have their usual place of residence in Germany.

Under certain circumstances, parental allowance may also be paid in respect of employment abroad.

Applications and deadlines:
Application for parental allowance must be made in writing to the office responsible for parental allowance in the federal states. Each parent may apply for parental allowance for him- or herself. The application does not necessarily have to be submitted immediately after birth. Retrospective payments are, however, only made for the last 3 months prior to the month in which the application for parental allowance was made.

Citizens of the EU/EEA:

Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are usually eligible for parental allowance if they are employed in Germany or if they are not employed but live in Germany.

Other foreigners:

Other foreigners are eligible for parental allowance if their residence in Germany is deemed permanent according to the type of residence title they possess and their access to the employment market. Those holding a settlement permit automatically fulfil this requirement. Those holding a residence permit only fulfil the requirements if they are also entitled to take up employment in Germany or have already worked here legally. Foreign parents who hold a residence permit for the purpose of studying or only in connection with a work permit for a specified maximum period are not eligible to receive parental allowance.

Source: EURAXESS Germany for Researchers EURAXESS

Application for parental allowance:

Landeshauptstadt Dresden - Jugendamt
Abt. Beistand-, Amtsvormund-, Amtspflegschaften
SG Elterngeld/ Erziehungsgeld
Service hotline: +49 (0)351 488 47 77

Postal Adress:
Postfach 12 00 20
01001 Dresden

Visitor's Adress:
Dr.-Külz-Ring 19
01067 Dresden

Opening hours:
Tuesday and Thursday 8 to 12 a.m., 2 to 6 p.m.  

Download application form (only in German) 

For further information (German only):
Stadt Dresden: Elterngeld
Stadt Dresden: Merkblatt Elterngeld