Families’ Minister Karin Prien (CDU) is reportedly planning to tighten the requirements for receiving the Parents’ Allowance (Elterngeld). Based on reports from “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland,” citing sources in coalition circles, a key change would require couples to divide the parental leave equally in order to qualify for the full 14-month benefit period.
Currently, to receive 14 months of the Parents’ Allowance, the second parent-often the father, assuming the main earner-must take at least two months of leave. The proposed change suggests that both partners would need to take seven months each. This alteration is anticipated to help achieve some of the savings requested by Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD), whom the minister apparently believes many fathers may be reluctant to take extended time out of the workforce. Klingbeil had previously asked Prien to contribute 500 million euros in consolidation funds for 2027 to cover budget deficits.
Prien reportedly intends to keep all other requirements for the Parents’ Allowance unchanged. The payment structure would remain at 65 percent of the net income, with a minimum payment of 300 euros and a maximum of 1,800 euros. Furthermore, the allowance is only available if the taxable income of the couple or single parent is below 175,000 euros.
Sources in coalition circles indicated that discussions regarding ministerial savings contributions are ongoing. It is also possible that individual measures could be discussed and altered during the Coalition Committee meeting on July 1st. Concurrently, observers noted that this is not solely a cost-cutting measure, but also a step intended to promote equality, similar to the recent limitations placed on contribution-free secondary insurance.
