Elterngeld and Kindergeld (various info/advice) - Germany

I searched and found about thirty posts that mention Elterngeld but have not explained it. Has anyone already researched it and understands how it works and can explain it in simple terms?

Related topics: Child support money and Erziehungsgeld

Kindergeld is what every kid gets.

Elterngeld is what the government pays you to stay home with the kiddo for the first two years. The Bavarian state can also pay a third year to EU citizens.

The first six months are, if I remember correctly, at a set level. After that it is based on income.

There are moves underway to make the amount conditional on the father taking time off work as well.

If your German is good, check out this webpage: eltern.de / elterngeld

I was just reading the other post about kindergeld and such and got looking into elterngeld. Does anyone know what kinds of restrictions, if any, there are on receiving this? For example, I think i read in the law (although i am not positive because my german is not perfect) that foreigners must be in germany for at least three years prior to being eligible. And what about if you are self employed? Any problems there?

Any insights would be appreciated.

Allison

Topics merged by admin

I am specifically talking about Elterngeld which is the new money available as of Jan1 2007. I was reading that link, which is very detailed but unfortunatley my legal german is not so good and I am never sure if i understand correctly or not. I was refering to this: elterngeld.net / Elterngeldgesetz

What do you want to know? Basically if you have been working full time and are an EU citizen you are entitled to not less than 300 and no more than 1,800 Euros. It's 67% of your avergage income over the last year divided by 12. This is paid for 14 months although one parent can only claim for 12, there are exceptions though (as always).

I would like to know about the "working full time" and "EU citizen" part. We are both self employed. Does that fit the "working full time" criteria or do you have to be an employee? Also, I am married to an Italian but am Canadian and we live here in Berlin. We have both been residents here since July 2005. Do we meet the "EU citizen" requirements?

I'm interested too in whether I would qualify as I've not worked here but my husband has - we're both british.
Thanks in advance for any info.

So since I am a US citizen I would not be eligible for Elterngeld (even though I'm married to an EU citizen)?

As I understand it for myself, I'll get the basic 300€/month as I have not worked here but I also get an extra 75€ for having 2 other children under he age of 6.

I guess it'll all become clear once we've applied and see how much money (if any) gets paid.

Elterngeld has nothing to do with having worked here (which is one of the major criticisms of the system) but more to do with being permitted to live and work here. It's paid to any legal resident, irrespective of nationality who would otherwise be available for work, were they not looking after the newly born child. 67% of income (for self employed people 67% of profit after deductions and tax) from the last 12 working months, paid over 12-14 months, minimum €300 per month. So for people new to Germany, who have not worked, or were unemployed the €300/month applies, assuming the child is born in Germany after January 1st, 2007. When in receipt of Elterngeld you are not allowed to work for more than 30 hours per month, or the payments will be reduced or cancelled Elterngeld is paid in addition to Kindergeld (€154/month per child for the first 3 children, €179/month for the 4th child onwards).

i was just about to comment on that. why should anyone who has never paid into the system get extra money. it won't get them more likely to go back to work. isn't the point to encourage people to have children, hence giving them incentive to stay at home?

Also if you are married or living with someone elegible, you're entitled.

Thanks so much for the info. I appreciate it alot.
One question though: what about the three year residency prior to eligibility? I would imagine there would have to be some kind of minimum stay before qualifying, otherwise loads of people could move here just to have their kids (assuming they are mobile enough to do so...and I do know lots of couples who are)
take care,
allison

I read the law yesterday, and it says, if you're a "nichtfreizügigkeitsberechtigter Ausländer" then you only qualify if you've got a residence permit and a working permit. I've you haven't got a working permit, then there are some exceptions, one of them is connected to a three years stay. The exceptions are given in terms of paragraphs of the Aufenthaltsgesetz, so I don't really know what they are about.
However if you are "freizügigkeitsberechtigt" (whatever that means) or have a residence permit and a working permit, then you definitely won't need a 3 years stay.