ELTERNGELD SERVICES
What is Elterngeld?
Elterngeld is an income replacement state benefit that is available to both mothers and fathers in Germany. Parents can claim between 150 and 1800€ / month depending on a number of factors (how long they wish to claim Elterngeld for, how much income they earned before the child was born etc).
If you live in Germany, have a child who is 15 months old or younger and if you do not work because you are caring for your baby (or work less than 30 hours a week), then it’s very likely you will be entitled to Elterngeld, even if:
- you have never worked in Germany
- you have never worked at all
- you are a freelancer
- you are not German
- you give birth abroad
- you just arrived in Germany
Why is Elterngeld so difficult to navigate?
COMPLEX
The manual for the Elterngeld law is a whopping 330 pages. Who has time to read and understand this as a pregnant expat?
CONFUSING
Elterngeld is very flexible, and therefore can be adapted to various specific situations. It’s difficult to find examples that reflect your own family.
IMPORTANT
The amount of benefit parents receive will determine their lifestyle and disposable income for many months. It’s important to get it right.
STRESSFUL
The application form and the list of supporting documents would make anyone break a sweat, notwithstanding the opaque application process.
Take your pick!
Elterngeld Basic Package
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A one-hour online consultation to explain all the details of Mutterschutz, Mutterschaftsgeld, Elternzeit and Elterngeld
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Depending on your situation: infos about health insurance contributions whilst on parental leave, baby's birth certificate, immigration, father declaration and so much more
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After this consultation, you will receive the following documents:
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Information sheets on Mutterschaftsgeld (maternity leave benefits), Elternzeit (parental leave) and Elterngeld (parental leave benefits)
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Blank Elterngeld application form
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Generic list of supporting documents to provide
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Address where to send your application
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Not included:
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Support with filling the Elterngeld application form
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Support with communicating with the authorities of the Elterngeldstelle
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Follow-up by email or phone in case of additional questions
Elterngeld Premium Package
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75-minute online consultation to explain all the details of Mutterschutz, Mutterschaftsgeld, Elternzeit and Elterngeld
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Depending on your situation: infos about health insurance contributions whilst on parental leave, baby's birth certificate, immigration, father declaration and so much more
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After this consultation, you will receive the following documents:
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Information sheets on Mutterschaftsgeld (maternity leave benefits), Elternzeit (parental leave) and Elterngeld (parental leave benefits)
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List of supporting documents to provide for your exact situation
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Address where to send your application
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Support with filling the Elterngeld application form according to your wishes
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Support to help you communicate with the authorities of the Elterngeldstelle where required (per post or email) until your case is accepted
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Follow-up by email or phone in case of additional questions
I also offer an online course specifically about Elterngeld. It makes for a great budget-friendly option if you wish to learn more about the topic.
How to choose the package you need
… you need tailored advice on how to best plan your parental leave and how to split the Elterngeld benefits. Recommended for employed parents, parents who speak a little German, parents who are at ease with bureaucracy and who feel good about filling in the application on their own but need to discuss their options and individual situation beforehand.
… you just want everything to be taken care of. Stress-free and efficient, this Elterngeld service is entirely customized to your needs. Recommended for self-employed parents, parents who moved to Germany recently, parents who do not speak German. I will basically hold your hand throughout the entire process from explaining the legal framework to the application being approved by the authorities.
… you want to understand the framework around Elternzeit and Elterngeld but are happy to reflect on your application on your own. Recommended for parents who are both employed, speak good German, have an HR department able to help them. You are confident that you know how to work out the best strategy for your family and are confortable with German bureaucracy.
All consultations are accessible as part of my paid packages. I don’t offer free consultations as I don’t have the capacity to do unpaid work.
If you choose the Elterngeld Premium Package, it includes assistance filling out the forms for you. If you choose the Elterngeld Basic Package or the Elterngeld & Co online course, it does not.
The Elterngeld Premium Package covers support if the authorities come back to you with any questions about your Elterngeld application. To some extent I can answer a couple of extra questions that you might still have by email but only if they relate to Elterngeld. Other questions about other topics such as baby registration, birth certificate, health insurance etc are not covered and would be done in further consultations with extra cost.
The Elterngeld Premium Package is by far the most sought-after of my services and brings a great value for money, as I am able to help you maximise the financial benefits, tell you aspects of the Elternzeit and Elterngeld that you didn’t know about and avoid common mistakes, save you time by helping you communicating with the authorities.
If you are looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Elterngeld Basic Package or the Elterngeld & Co online course are also available but offer less value.
Absolutely! This is commonly done by my clients. If you’re unsure you want my full support with the Premium Package, you can book a Basic Package first and upgrade later on to the Premium Package for the price difference + a small administrative fee.
No, Kindergeld is an entirely different application of its own. The application process, form and authority to apply to are different. I offer a Kindergeld application service though which can be booked here.
Ideally we would have the consultation a couple of months before your due date. This would ensure you can benefit from all the available options and have sufficient time to prepare your parental leave application with your employer if you’re employed.
If this date has passed, don’t worry, we can still have the consultation and I will explain what your options are. Some of my clients get in touch well after the baby is born, but that means having less options and potentially losing out on some benefits.
What is the process of your Elterngeld services?
Process
- Book the package you are interested in. You will be directed to my schedule where you can select a date and time that suits you for our individual online consultation.
- We will discuss your individual situation during the consultation and you will get all relevant documents in a follow-up email.
- For Elterngeld Premium Package customers: you will also receive your very own Elterngeld application filled in, as well as support to help you communicate with the authorities when needed.
Benefits
- Ensure you know all the ins and outs of the legal framework surrounding the Elternzeit and Elterngeld
- Maximise the amount of Elterngeld you can claim
- Be able to discuss your individual situation and gather advice based on your circumstances
- Benefit from my experience with hundreds of Elterngeld cases
- Know exactly which documents you need to prepare, ensuring a quick and smooth process
Forget the paperwork and start enjoying your pregnancy today
Why work with me?
My ultimate goal is to offer expat families a unique experience that will allow them to:
– ensure they are maximizing their benefit
– follow their long-term goals (family, career, training, finances)
– have peace of mind knowing everything has been taken care of
I have so far helped over a thousand families with their Elterngeld application. I have seen various complex cases come my way, from parents posted abroad from a German company, to parents just arriving to Germany with a baby, or parents living in Germany and giving birth abroad. This extensive experience allows me to provide excellent information and advice when it comes to your Elterngeld application.
Because there are many factors coming into play when deciding on how to apply for Elterngeld, I also inform you about Mutterschutz (maternity leave), Mutterschaftsgeld (maternity leave benefits) and Elternzeit (parental leave) as well as give you some pointers as to what might be important for you to consider when making your decision. One important note: I am not a lawyer or a tax-advisor, not can I guarantee your application being accepted or the amount of benefits you will receive.
However I strive to give you the best possible outcome for your Elterngeld application, making sure you receive the highest amount of benefit possible, and that you strategize your parental leave in the best way so as not to negatively impact your professional, family and personal goals.
Most of my clients are surprised at how flexible Elterngeld actually is (from working part-time to sharing the months between the parents for a more gender-equal share of parental responsibilities) and usually come away with a refreshed view of the topic, feeling better as they are making an informed decision.
I care about your application as if it was my own
Testimonials
“Elodie is great! As a freelancer and foreigner from outside of the EU, we had a complicated case to deal with for acquiring Elterngeld. Baby in Berlin really helped us out when we thought we had no other options. We are very grateful for their support and highly recommend their services.”
DARSHA
“Although I am pretty experienced in German bureaucracy matters, my Elterngeld thing was a bit tricky and also – who wants to be buried under all these papers when you have a newborn and don’t have time? Elodie guided me through all the difficulties like an angel, being quick, efficient and – most of all – supportive. Thank you, I can only recommend your services that saved me hours and sanity.”
NATALIA
“Elodie was always available, reactive and supportive when we call for her services (Elterngeld claim). Even if our case was quite complex, she managed it successfully with great professionalism.”
JÉRÉMY