Definition of the parental allowance
The parental allowance (Elternfreibetrag) is the amount your parents may keep each month from their countable income before it is set against your BAföG entitlement. It depends on the parents’ marital status and the number of further dependent children. Income above the allowances reduces your support. The allowance is therefore a protected amount for your parents, not a grant for you.
Value (as of 20 October 2026)
| Figure | Value | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Married, living together | 2,540 euros a month | official, valid since 1 August 2024 | bafög.de, allowances |
| Single | 1,690 euros a month | official, valid since 1 August 2024 | bafög.de, allowances |
| Stepparent | 850 euros a month | official, valid since 1 August 2024 | bafög.de, allowances |
| Each further dependent child | 770 euros a month | official, valid since 1 August 2024 | bafög.de, allowances |
Note: The amounts are allowances in euros per month. Income above the allowances is counted using its own percentage rates, which this overview does not show. The planned BAföG reform (printed paper 21/8405) has not been adopted. The draft provides for an annual increase of the allowances only from August 2028.
Example
Your father is single and has 2,300 euros of countable income a month. The 1,690 euro allowance is disregarded, and the rest is counted under the offsetting rules. With two further dependent siblings, 2 times 770 euros is added, so the allowance rises to 3,230 euros. The income of 2,300 euros lies below this figure, so nothing is counted.
Distinction from other figures
The parental allowance is not the same as the BAföG requirement rate. The requirement rate describes what you need to live on, while the parental allowance describes what your parents may keep. The assets allowance is a separate matter too. It concerns your own assets and, according to the fact base, is 15,000 euros for trainees up to age 29, valid since 1 August 2024.
Related terms
BAföG requirement rate (Bedarfssatz), independent BAföG (elternunabhängiges BAföG), assets allowance (Vermögensfreibetrag), income offsetting (Einkommensanrechnung), stepparent (Stiefelternteil).
Further articles
- Independent BAföG: Requirements and application (in German)
- BAföG 2026: Entitlement, amount and repayment explained (in German)
- Parental Allowance for Students: Minimum Amount, Application and BAföG
- Practical Year Allowance by State: Amounts and Rules
- Glossary: Parental allowance for BAföG (in German)
Sources
bafög.de, allowances, German Bundestag, printed paper 21/8405. As of 20 October 2026.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
Editorial team: Academycon
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