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Elterngeld calculator: Basis vs Plus →
Put the part-time + Plus + Kita combo into numbers.
Fees, Hours and the Elterngeld Combo
The subsidised hours depend on the parents work situation. Kita plus ElterngeldPlus pairs perfectly with part-time work.
✓ Verified: 15/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Jugendamt
Municipal authorityKita voucher, acknowledgement of paternity, child maintenance and legal support all go through your town's Jugendamt.
Where to go in your city →› Details and tips
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Max recommends:
I applied for cost coverage at the youth office with an income statement: at our level the fee was cut noticeably. Not poverty aid but the usual income scale.
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Lea recommends:
Kita costs are partly tax-deductible as childcare costs (up to two thirds, a cap per child). Keep receipts — the annual return recovers part.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much does a Kita cost? ▾
Depends on the state and income: free in some places (Berlin), income-scaled up to several hundred euros elsewhere. Meals are usually paid separately. Exact rates from the youth office or city.
Can the fee be reduced or waived? ▾
Yes: with low income the city scales or fully covers it (cost coverage via the youth office). Apply with proof of income — many do not know and overpay.
We only got 5 hours — too little! ▾
Hours follow demonstrated need: increase official working time or submit proof (studies and integration courses count too) and request a voucher revision.
The child is constantly ill in the first months — normal? ▾
Yes — the immune system Kita-onboarding means 6–10 infections in year one. Working parents get Kinderkrankentage — paid child sick days.
Can I receive Elterngeld while the child attends Kita? ▾
Yes: ElterngeldPlus is built exactly for this — child in Kita in the morning, you work up to 32 hours a week, the Plus continues.