Whether you're a freelancer, run your own business, or do both employed and self-employed work – you're eligible for Elterngeld. The calculation just works a bit differently.
For self-employed income, the Elterngeldstelle looks at your profit (Gewinn), not revenue. They typically use your most recent tax return (Einkommensteuerbescheid).
The reference period is usually the calendar year before birth. If your baby is born in July 2024, they'd look at your 2023 tax return.
If your income varies significantly year to year, this can work for or against you.
The 32-hour rule applies to self-employed work too. You need to track your hours and stay under 32 hours/week average.
Here's the tricky part: You'll likely need to estimate your income for the Elterngeld months. This is paid out provisionally, then settled later when you have actual numbers from your tax return.
For self-employed parents, the documentation requirements are more extensive:
Not more money, but more months: As a single parent, you can receive all 14 months of Basiselterngeld alone (instead of 12+2 partner months). You can also use the Partnerschaftsbonus alone. You qualify as single parent if the other parent doesn't live with you and the child AND you receive the tax relief for single parents.
Yes! You can work up to 32 hours per week during Elternzeit. You even have a legal right to part-time work with your employer (in companies with >15 employees, if employed >6 months). You can also work for another employer but need consent from your main employer.
Our free guide walks you through everything step by step.
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