Legalities/Financial Support You need to Apply for Before and Right After the Birth of Your Child in Germany

Like with every thing else in Germany, giving birth brings along various bureacracies that you need to take care of. Here are some of the stuff you will need to take care of before and right after your bundle of joy arrives.

Registering the child

Birth Certificate

• This is issued at the local Standesamt. The birth should be registered within the first week. (Some hospitals will do this for you, so ask beforehand)
• For single mothers you will need a Vaterschaftserklärung for the father’s name to be entered into the birth certificate

Health Insurance

• Call the Health Insurance and they will send you the form to fill out.
• The child is automatically insured under the parent’s policy
• For the statutory health insurance this is free until the child turns 18 or 25 if they are at the University and earning less than the mini-job amount (€450)

Residence registration

• The child’s residence needs to also be registered at the Einwohnermeldeamt, the Standesamt might sometimes forward the details you registered with them, but it’s safe to call in and confirm. 
• The Ausländerbehörde will also need to be informed so as to issue the child with the appropriate Aufenthaltstitel

Lohnsteuerkarte

• With your new status as a parent, your tax class will need to change, thus you need to inform the local Einwohnermeldeamt. (They no longer issue a physical card, but you need a letter confirming the changes in your tax class)

Passport

• This can be applied for from the embassy and/or the Einwohnermeldeamt if you want to have the child included in your passport (only for Germans)

Citizenship

• The child is entitled to hold dual citizenship (READ: Germany Allows Dual Citizenship for Kids BUT With a Caveat)
• The child can get German citizenship if one parent is German or qualifies for German citizenship
• Currently children are allowed to keep both citizenships for life (might change with the next government in 2018)
• Optionszwang – this would force children to choose one citizenship latest by their 23^rd birthday (READ: Optionszwang and dual citizenship in Germany)

 

Bureacratic perks from Government

Mutterschutz (Maternity Leave)

• Lasts 12 weeks centered around the due date; it increases for multiple and premature births
• 100% of your salary during that time
• READ: Laws Governing Parental Leave (Elternzeit) and Protection of Working Mothers (Mutterschutz) in Germany

Kindergeld

• Awarded to everyone legally living in Germany that has a child in Germany
• Amounts to €192 for the first child and increases depending on number of children
• Paid to the parent’s bank account until the child turns 18 and if the child chooses to go to University, it is paid until they are 25 (READ: Kindergeld for University Students over 18)
• Apply for it at the Familienkasse at the Agentur für Arbeit
• READ: Understanding Child Benefit (Kindergeld) and the Laws Governing it in Germany

Kinderfreibetrag (Non-taxable child allowance)

• You deduct this amount from your taxable income at the end of the year thus reduce the amount of taxes you pay in your taxes. The amount is currently at €4716 per child

 

	Calculating taxes with the „Kindergeld-Method”	Calculating taxes with the „Kinderfreibetrag-Method”
Kindergeld received	2.280 €	2.280 €
Taxable income	70.000 €	70.000 € – Kinderfreibetrag = 7.248 €
Taxes	14.340 €	11.948 € + Kindergeld = 14.228 € (you need to pay back the Kindergeld)
Result		Saving : 112 €

 

Grundfreibetrag (Non-taxable income)

• To ensure all parents have the same amount of basic income for their children, the Grundfreibetrag allows parents a specified non-taxable income every year
• Amount is set at €8820 in 2017

Kinderzuschlag (supplementary child allowance)

• For parents who only earn enough to support themselves, you can apply for the Kinderzuschlag which amounts to €170 a month per child, that together with the Kindergeld, should be enough to support the child.
• READ: Supplementary Child Allowance (Kinderzuschlag) in Germany

Unterhaltsvorschuss

• Similar to the Kinderzuschlag but this is open to single parents only.
• It’s paid for children up to the age of 12 and is paid for a maximum of 72 months
• Ranges from €133 and €180 depending on the age of the child
• READ: Maintenance Advance (Unterhaltsvorschuss) for Single Parents

Elternzeit ()

• Only open to those in employment and can be taken by both parents separately or simultaneously
• Runs for a maximum of 3 years per child
• It can be put off for up to 1 year but must be taken between the child’s 3^rd and 8^th birthday (or you lose it)
• Inform your employer at least 7weeks before you plan to start your time off
• READ: Laws Governing Parental Leave (Elternzeit) in Germany2014

Elterngeld (Parental Benefit)

• Entitlement lapses at the child’s 8^th birthday
• Paid out for up to 14months for both births and adoptions
• Not applicable to couples whose combined income exceeds €500,000 p.a.
• minimum amount of parental benefit is €300 and the maximum amount is €1,800
• each parent can claim a min. 2 months and a max of 12 months (combined)
• Allows parents to work part-time for 25-30hrs a week
• Apply for this at the Jugendamt in Berlin (other states do it at different offices, more details on the BMFSFJ website)
• Apply early. You’re only allowed a delay of up to 3months
• READ: Information on Parental Benefit (Elterngeld) in Germany

Elterngeld Plus ()

• Amount reduces if parent works
• Can be taken up to 28months after the birth of the child
• READ: Introduction of Elterngeld Plus, Mehrlingszuschlag and Partnerschaftbonus in 2015

Partnerschaftsbonus ()

• parents who share custody may get an additional 4months of parental benefit (Elterngeld)
• parent may work part-time for 25-30hrs a week
• READ: Introduction of Elterngeld Plus, Mehrlingszuschlag and Partnerschaftbonus in 2015

Mehrlingszuschlag ()

• Considering Elterngeld is paid per birth and not per birth, parents with multiple births can additionally apply for the Mehrlingszuschlag at €300 per child per month
• READ: Introduction of Elterngeld Plus, Mehrlingszuschlag and Partnerschaftbonus in 2015