Politics · Germany · 16 hrs ago
Germany plans first parental benefit increase since 2007
Germany's government plans its first parental benefit increase since 2007, raising the monthly minimum from 300 to 330 euros and the maximum from 1,800 to 1,900 euros.
The payment helps parents replace income when they take time off work to care for a child.
The proposed reform keeps up to 14 months of payments in cases where both parents take leave, and for eligible single parents.
For each parent's first four months, the benefit would equal 80 percent of previous net earnings, then 50 percent for each later month; currently, it is generally about 65 percent each month.
Parents could again receive the benefit at the same time without the current limit, and the sibling bonus would last longer.
The changes aim to make leave more attractive for both parents and help families receive payments faster.
The bill is still being reviewed within the government, and when the reform would take effect is not yet known.
Germany plans to raise parental benefit for the first time since it was introduced in 2007.
The proposed minimum monthly rate would rise from 300 to 330 euros, and the maximum from 1,800 to 1,900 euros.
The draft would keep the benefit period at up to 14 months, dropping a previously proposed cut to 12 months.
The bill has entered internal government coordination, but it has not been approved.
The proposal would also change how benefits are shared between parents and allow them to receive benefits at the same time without the current limit.
- Who
- Germany’s Federal Ministry for Family Affairs and the governing coalition. The changes would affect parents receiving parental benefit.
- What
- The government plans to raise the minimum rate to 330 euros and the maximum to 1,900 euros, alongside other changes to the benefit.
- When
- The plan was announced on October 28, 2026. When the reform would take effect is not stated.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- The proposal aims to update the benefit for the circumstances of young families and make it more attractive to share caregiving. The ministry also said the draft takes public spending into account.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Germany introduced parental benefit.
The coalition agreement’s planned reform had an initial draft, according to Bild.
The ministry announced plans to raise the minimum and maximum rates and sent a reform bill for internal government coordination.
- Minimum monthly rate
- Planned increase from 300 to 330 euros
- Maximum monthly rate
- Planned increase from 1,800 to 1,900 euros
- Benefit period
- Up to 14 months
- Replacement rate
- 80 percent of previous net earnings in each parent’s first four benefit months; 50 percent for each later month
- Government spending in 2025
- Around 7 billion euros, for 1.6 million recipients
6 sources
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Elterngeldreform: Mehr Geld und neue Aufteilung geplant
What people are saying
We have agreed to further develop parental benefit structurally and adapt it better to the realities of young families today. This ensures that starting a family remains attractive for young people in Germany in the future.
We are deliberately sending a message to young families: We support you. In addition, the draft also keeps our budget in view so as not to place a greater burden on taxpayers every year. That, too, is part of our responsibility.