Excluding months (Ausklammerung) is one of the most important rules in Elterngeld law for families with a second child.
What does excluding months mean?
Normally, the Elterngeldstelle uses the last 12 calendar months before the birth as the assessment period. If that period contains certain events, those months can be removed on request. The period then extends backwards accordingly.
Which months can be excluded?
Under § 2b (1) BEEG:
1. Months with Elterngeld payments Months in which Elterngeld was received for another child can be excluded.
2. Months with Mutterschaftsgeld Months of Mutterschutz (before and after birth) with Mutterschaftsgeld payments can be excluded.
3. Months with Krankengeld due to pregnancy If Krankengeld was received because of a pregnancy-related illness, these months can be excluded.
What cannot be excluded?
- Regular part-time months (without pregnancy connection)
- Unpaid leave for non-pregnancy reasons
- Months with Elterngeld for the same child now being applied for
How many months can be excluded?
In principle, all months meeting the conditions. The period shifts back until 12 months without exclusion events are found.
How to apply for the exclusion
The exclusion must be explicitly requested in the Elterngeld application. It does not happen automatically.
Documents to include (depending on the case):
- Elterngeld notice for child one
- Confirmation of Mutterschaftsgeld from the health insurer
- Medical certificate for pregnancy-related illness (if applicable)