Federal Childcare Allowance Act
Bundeserziehungsgeldgesetz (BerzGG)

Act on Childcare Allowance and Parental Leave (Federal Childcare Allowance Act – BerzGG) in the version published or 9 February 2004, as amended by Art. 3 of the Act of 13 December 2006

The reform of the Federal Childcare Allowance Act is one of the key elements of family policy and facilitates the parents’ reconciliation of family and employment as well as their joint care for the child.

The most important concern in the revision of the Act is to extend the scope of opportunities for parents taking care of small children. Parents can take parental leave jointly from the first day after the child’s birth to his/her third birthday. By a legal entitlement to part-time work, fathers are given an opportunity to share childcare responsibilities. At the same time, women are given greater opportunities to keep in touch with the world of work through part-time employment during the period of parental leave.

The Act stipulates the prerequisites for the childcare allowance, the income ceiling, the beginning and the end of the childcare allowance entitlement, as well as the parent’s right of protection against dismissal.