Hello dear mom,
I'm Jana, your parental leave expert with a big mom heart!
First of all: Congratulations on your pregnancy! This time is truly unique: you're filled with anticipation for your baby! At the same time, a thousand things are going through your head, things you still need to think about. I remember so clearly how overwhelmed I was at first by all those technical terms like parental allowance, parental leave, and so on. And then there was all that paperworkβ¦
To prevent you from getting bogged down in hours of online searches and forums, here are 3 typical pitfalls regarding parental allowance and parental leave from my parental allowance consultations, and how to avoid them!
βDad only takes one month of parental leaveβ
You may have already heard that since April 2024, parents are only allowed to receive basic parental allowance for one month at a time . That's correct! But your partner still needs to take at least two months of parental allowance for the application to be approved.
It doesn't matter whether he chooses 2x Basic, 1x Basic + 1x Plus, or 2x Plus. The main thing is that it lasts at least 2 months.
β12 months of parental allowance, so I'll only take 1 year of parental leave.β
In my consultations, I repeatedly hear that parental allowance and parental leave are used interchangeably. Many mothers think that the duration of both components must be the same, but you can combine them flexibly:
- Parental leave is your unpaid time off from work. You are allowed to take up to 3 years per child.
- Parental allowance is your financial compensation. Its duration is limited to 12-22 months, depending on the combination of basic parental allowance and parental allowance plus.
Your bonus: During parental leave, you're even allowed to continue working up to 32 hours per week . But please make sure that your additional income doesn't negatively affect your parental allowance.
Generally, it's often worthwhile to take parental leave for a longer period than you receive parental allowance! Especially if you don't want to return to full-time work immediately or are planning on having another child later. This way, you maintain financial freedom and time for motherhood! And for any changes within the two-year commitment period, you need your employer's approval.
"Get married quickly to get more parental allowance"
Generally, your parental allowance is initially calculated based on your salary from the 12 months prior to maternity leave. Therefore, if you switch to the "better" tax bracket III after getting married, your relevant salary increases, and you would theoretically receive more parental allowance.
However, for the new tax bracket to actually be used to calculate your parental allowance, it must be in effect for at least six months. Therefore, you would need to notify the tax office of the change no later than the seventh month before the month in which your maternity leave begins.
Even if you're already married and "only" need to change your tax bracket, it's usually a very tight squeeze! So quickly check and calculate whether it's worth it for you!
To help you understand, here's a small example:
- August 2024: Positive pregnancy test
- April 2025: Expected due date (EDD)
- March 2025: Start of maternity leave (6 weeks before due date)
- Latest tax bracket change: August 2024
This means the new tax class will then apply for exactly 6 calendar months: September 2024 β February 2025 and will count towards your parental allowance!
If you just missed the deadline, I also have a tip for you in my online course " Parental Allowance Without Stress" . Here I explain the basics of parental allowance , various strategies for receiving more allowance , and how to fill out the application flawlessly.
Another tip from one mom to another:
Use your pregnancy to prepare your parental leave application as much as possible. Enter all the fixed dates now, as this will save you a lot of stress and paperwork during the postpartum period. Once your baby finally arrives, you'll only need to add the name, date of birth, and other details , and attach the remaining documents. And thanks to the wonderful Rookie baby carrier, your little miracle can stay close to you while you complete the application hands-free!
Especially for you: Use the code ROOKIE to get 10% off my online course "Parental Leave Without Stress β Your Roadmap for Your First Child" . This leaves you more time for yourself and your baby π
All love,
Jana
PS: I recently had my second child and the Rookie baby carrier has been an absolute game-changer in my daily life. It's a huge help, especially with two children. I have my hands free for my older child and my little one close to me at the same time. She falls asleep super quickly in the carrier and stays relaxed β but she's usually awake again as soon as I put her down. For me, it's the best investment: practical, comfortable, and really beautiful too. π₯°
