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German Family Minister Prien proposes parental allowance reform requiring fathers to take four months' leave for full benefits
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German Family Minister Karin Prien is proposing a reform to parental allowance (Elterngeld), raising benefits for the first time since 2007 while keeping the total entitlement at 14 months. Under the draft 4-6-4 model, each parent receives four months at 80 percent of net income, with the remaining six months freely distributable at a 50 percent replacement rate. To claim the full benefit, both parents must now take four months of parental leave instead of two, creating stronger financial incentives for fathers to participate in childcare. The taz commentary argues this could drive real social change toward greater partnership in parenting. However, critics warn that the lower 50 percent replacement rate over six months would mean real losses for low-income families, and a petition against the cuts has gathered over 200,000 signatures in days. The author contends that skeptics who say fathers will not change should not be given a pass, since Prien has now set concrete incentives for fathers to double their leave.
Source report
Commentary by Amelie Sittenauer 2 November 2026, 9:31 a.m.
Federal Family Minister Karin Prien wants greater partnership between young parents. To achieve this, she is taking a risk.
Most couples in Germany who receive parental allowance devote themselves entirely to raising their children together, at least for a time. Photo: Thomas Kienzle/ap
Karin Prien is making a fresh start on parental allowance. According to a draft from the Federal Family Ministry released last week, the allowance is to be increased — for the first time since its introduction in 2007. At the same time, the duration of parental allowance is now set to remain at 14 months. By changing how the months are distributed, the family minister is also holding fathers accountable — and could thereby set real social change in motion.
The new draft provides for the 4-6-4 model: each parent receives four months at 80 percent of net income, while the remaining six months can be freely divided between them at a wage replacement rate of 50 percent. To receive the full allowance, both parents must now take four months of parental leave instead of two.
This should particularly suit fathers — for years, studies have shown that they want to be more involved in childcare. These words, which in the past were rarely followed by deeds, are now backed by tangible financial arguments: anyone who forgoes parental leave will have significantly more to lose in the future.
In terms of equality, then, Prien is taking a risk. Now she must ensure that this risk does not come at the expense of low-income families. The lower wage replacement rate of 50 percent over six months would mean real losses for poor families, family associations are already warning. A petition against the cut has gathered more than 200,000 signatures in just a few days.
However, the critics' argument that fathers have so far often taken only two months of parental leave and that this will not change in the future should not be accepted outright. Prien has created incentives for fathers to care for their babies twice as long as before. Now they can show how serious they are about it.
— Amelie Sittenauer
Related articles:
- U-Turn at the CDU: Suddenly No Appetite for Cuts — Column by Ulrike Winkelmann
- Cuts to Advance Maintenance Payments: The Merz Government Cements Poverty Instead of Alleviating It — Commentary by Amelie Sittenauer
- Desire for Half-Time Childcare: Fathers' Willingness Is There — by Jonas Grimm
Source
taz.de - taz.deWestern
Part of this Story
Germany Plans First Parental Allowance Increase Since 2007, Keeps 14-Month Payment Period