The parental allowance reform for 2027 has been announced by the German government, but as of November 2026 it is not yet an adopted law, and several key figures are still unknown. If you want to know what will change for parental allowance (Elterngeld), you need to separate what is officially confirmed from what media reports suggest. This guide sets out the current position and does not adopt figures that no official body has published.
Short answer: The federal government confirms a reform of parental allowance but, in its answer to a parliamentary question dated 26 October 2026 (Drucksache 21/8793), it names no duration, no maximum amount, no number of father months and no start date. The current minimum of 300 euros per month serves as the starting point. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- The reform has been announced. According to the government, a draft exists, but its content is still subject to internal coordination.
- The minimum amount of 300 euros per month is the current starting point that the government itself mentions.
- The duration of payments, the maximum amount and the number of father months have not been officially quantified.
- No start date has been set. Press reports mention November 2027, but this is not an official statement.
- The income threshold of 175,000 euros of taxable income has applied since 2024 and is not part of the reform.
What is officially confirmed, and what is still missing?
The most recent official source is the government answer of 26 October 2026 to a parliamentary question from the AfD parliamentary group, published as Drucksache 21/8793 of the German Bundestag (in German). The answer is titled “Elterngeldreform 2027 (Auswirkungen der Haushaltskonsolidierung auf Familien)”. It cites no legal paragraphs and names no future values. The table below separates each point by how well it is documented.
| Point | Position according to the government | Evidence status |
|---|---|---|
| Reform planned | The project is confirmed, draft in coordination | confirmed |
| Minimum amount | 300 euros per month named as the current amount | confirmed as starting point |
| Maximum amount | No sum named, increase announced in the coalition agreement | open |
| Duration | No figure given | open |
| Father months | No number given | open |
| Entry into force | No date given | open |
| Income threshold | 175,000 euros of taxable income, in force since 2024 | confirmed, not part of the reform |
Which figures are circulating in the media?
Several media outlets report models with a shorter payment period, a link between the full entitlement and father months, and a changed payment process. Some articles even calculate concrete monthly amounts and name November 2027 as a target date. However, these figures do not come from a published law or an official draft. Read them as signals of an ongoing debate, not as a basis for financial planning.
The difference matters in practice. A draft is a government proposal that can still change before it is promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt). A model in a specialist article or a party press release is not a government proposal. Only after a cabinet decision and transmission to the Bundestag does a parliamentary paper exist that can be cited officially.
How does a reform like this get adopted?
A change to parental allowance usually passes through several stages. First, the responsible federal ministry drafts a bill, which the other ministries coordinate. The cabinet then adopts a government bill, which the Bundestag debates in three readings. In many cases the Bundesrat must consent or can comment. The new rule only applies after promulgation in the Federal Law Gazette, often with a later cut-off date for births.
In the current case the reform sits at the first of these stages. A cabinet decision is not officially documented. Anyone checking the status should therefore look for a government bill in the Bundestag, not only for headlines.
What does the reform mean for students with a child?
For students with a child, the decisive question is whether the amount, the duration or the father months change. As long as no law has been promulgated, the existing rules continue to apply, even if the reform is later discussed with retroactive effect. Our guide on parental allowance while studying explains how the rules work today, for example how the minimum amount applies without earlier income.
A special case applies to students who worked before the birth. Here the amount depends on the earlier income. Whether the reform changes this calculation is not officially known. If you need to settle this question before a birth, ask the parental allowance office in your place of residence, which applies the law in force.
Which questions remain open?
The official position leaves several questions unanswered. They affect young families planning ahead, as well as cut-off rules for births around the date of entry into force.
- How long is the entitlement overall, and how are the months divided between mother and father?
- How high is the maximum amount, and will the minimum amount rise?
- How many father months are planned, and what happens if a parent waives them?
- Will the new rule apply to children born before entry into force?
- When will the reform take effect, and is there a transitional rule?
While these questions remain open, it is sensible not to base family decisions on press articles alone. A conversation with the parental allowance office provides clarity for your individual case.
How to check the status yourself
If you want to follow the reform, you can proceed in five steps. The sources are publicly accessible, but interpreting them remains your own task.
- Search the Bundestag documentation system for “Elterngeld” and sort the results by date.
- Distinguish minor interpellations and their answers from government bills. Only a bill with a Drucksache number is a formal procedural step.
- Check whether a cabinet decision or a transmission to the Bundestag has taken place.
- Watch for promulgation in the Federal Law Gazette. Only that creates binding law.
- Compare the date and the cut-off date for births before you make a decision.
Frequently asked questions
Does the parental allowance reform already apply?
No. As of the end of October 2026 there is no promulgated law that changes the rules from 2027. The government speaks of a draft whose content is still being coordinated. The current law remains in force until a statute is published in the Federal Law Gazette.
How high is the minimum amount today?
According to the government answer of 26 October 2026, the current minimum amount is 300 euros per month. The government mentions this figure as a starting point for the reform, without setting a future amount.
Are there official figures for father months yet?
No, not officially. The government answer names no number. Proposals that appear in the media are not binding and should not be used as a planning basis.
Do I need to act because of the reform?
The current status creates no duty to act immediately. If you expect a child, check the applicable rule with the responsible parental allowance office. It applies the law in force at the time of the application and can calculate your individual entitlement.
Where can I find the official status?
Bundestag printed papers are publicly available in the Bundestag documentation system, and binding law is published in the Federal Law Gazette. Drucksache 21/8793 is the basis of this guide.
What to do now
- Check the status of the reform in the Bundestag or the Federal Law Gazette before any family decision.
- For a planned birth, confirm the applicable rule with the parental allowance office in your place of residence.
- Read our guide on parental allowance while studying to understand the rules that apply today.
Related reading
- Family, partnership and money: the overview for young adults
- Father months for parental allowance (in German)
- Parental allowance while studying (in German)
- Parental allowance for self-employed parents (in German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
