Child-rearing time

What is the parenting period?

The child-rearing period is a period under pension law that occurs during parental leave (36 months) is credited to the pension. One parent takes care of their children during parental leave and does not go to work or work very little.

The state pays the respective pension contribution for this parent during parental leave depending on the average earnings of all insured persons in Germany. In this way, parents are given the opportunity to raise their children without any negative consequences for the pension.

Since the child-rearing periods are not automatically taken into account in the pension, an application must be made in order to assert the claim.

Where and how do I apply for parental leave?

The child-rearing time during parental leave is only credited if an application is submitted to the German pension insurance. The application is the "Application for the determination of child-rearing times / periods of consideration due to child-rearing". The application consists of a 12-page form.

You can either fill out this form online on the German pension insurance website or print it out and send it to the German pension insurance company by post. In addition, the applicant must prove the birth of the child by means of the birth certificate.

Are you wondering how to best raise your child? In the following article you can read everything about this topic: Raising children

How long is parental leave taken into account?

Parental leave for a child is credited to a maximum of 36 months. If these 36 months are requested directly after the birth of the child, they will last until the child is three years old.

If another child is born during this period, the parenting period is extended by the time in which several children are brought up within the 36 months. This means that you don't get two times 36 months taken into account.

The following example explains it better. A child will be born in 2014, so you will be credited with your 36 months of upbringing until 2017. If another child is born in 2016, the months in which several children are raised will be counted from their birth to the end of the 36 months and added to the 36 months as an extension.

Accordingly, in this example, 48 months from 2014 to 2018 parental leave are calculated. Accordingly, it is not possible to have a very long educational period taken into account by giving birth to many children.

The next article may also be of interest to you: Maternity protection

How are the child-rearing periods counted towards my pension?

The child-rearing period is the months that are taken from parental leave. Parental leave has a maximum duration of 36 months, according to which the state pays the pension contribution for a maximum of 36 months, this period is then called parental leave.

The respective parent who takes on childcare receives the pension contribution in the amount of the average earnings of all insured persons in Germany from the state. Average earnings in 2016 were around 2,900 euros per month. The resulting contribution is offset against the normal pension entitlements from the working time, so that a pension is also provided during parental leave.

The following topic could also be of interest to you: Parental Allowance

What are the special features of child-rearing periods up to the age of 10?

The child-rearing period lasts a maximum of 36 months for a child. If another child is born within these 36 months after the birth of the first child, 36 months of parental leave will be taken into account again from its birth.

The time in which the childcare periods can be credited begins on the day the child is born and ends at the latest when the child reaches the age of 10.

The period of upbringing up to the age of 10 is called the consideration period.It is also a maximum of 36 months per child, although it does not have to be 36 months after the birth. If further children are born during this period that are not claimed directly after the birth, the parenting period is not extended.

Special features of child-rearing periods for civil servants

In the case of civil servants, the recognition of child-rearing time in the pension insurance is not taken into account in the German pension insurance. The child-rearing periods are already anchored in the civil service provision, by adding child allowances, and are equivalent to those in the statutory pension insurance.

So that civil servants do not receive double benefits, the recognition of child-rearing periods in the pension insurance is excluded for them.

A civil servant does not have to submit an application for child-rearing time, which is determined and taken into account automatically when retiring. For each of the 36 months of the child-rearing period, a fixed amount is paid to the civil servant, which is adjusted with each salary increase.

The following topic could also be of interest to you: Educational Aid - What is it?

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  • Maternity Protection
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