Name:
sabina
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I am a radio and online journalist based in Cologne, Germany. Whether it's art or business, politics or pop, I offer an American's perspective on Germany.
Parent Money in Germany
Over 570,000 parents in Germany are
taking advantage of the country's new childcare benefit program. So how does it
work? Any mother or father whose child was born after January 1, 2007 can
apply. It doesn't matter whether they're regular employees, self-employed or
even unemployed, students, trainees and even adoptive parents. If one parent
(usually the mother) decides to stay at home for 12 months, she will get 67 percent
of her previous net salary for this period. If both parents want to take
advantage of these benefits, they can be extended to 14 months -- so if the
mother stays home for 12 months and the father for two months.
It is also possible to work part-time during this time, up to 30 hours a week. The maximum amount you can receive, though, is 1,800 euros per month (approx. $2,700); the minimum is 300 euros. So for a top manager, it wouldn't be much compared to their regular monthly salary. But for middle-class moms and dads, it isn't bad. And it's tax-free! Interestingly enough, the share of fathers choosing to stay home has jumped from 3.5 percent to 12.4 percent in the first year. And the government, which is footing the bill for this program, expects the number of at-home daddies to increase even more.
It is also possible to work part-time during this time, up to 30 hours a week. The maximum amount you can receive, though, is 1,800 euros per month (approx. $2,700); the minimum is 300 euros. So for a top manager, it wouldn't be much compared to their regular monthly salary. But for middle-class moms and dads, it isn't bad. And it's tax-free! Interestingly enough, the share of fathers choosing to stay home has jumped from 3.5 percent to 12.4 percent in the first year. And the government, which is footing the bill for this program, expects the number of at-home daddies to increase even more.
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