Parental Allowance in Thuringia: Waiting Times Vary Greatly - Parental allowance delays in Thuringia expose stark regional disparities
Parental Allowance Delays in Thuringia Vary Widely by Region
How long parents in Thuringia must wait for their parental allowance depends heavily on where they live. While applications are processed quickly in the Kyffhäuser district, families in Gotha have recently faced months of delays.
According to a response from the Thuringian Ministry of Social Affairs to a query by CDU state parliamentarian Marion Rosin, average processing times across the state fluctuated between 33 and 41 calendar days from 2020 to October 2025. However, the data reveals significant disparities between districts and independent cities.
Last year, families in the Gotha district waited the longest—an average of over three months—for their applications to be approved. Officials cited delayed staff expansions and IT-related transitions and disruptions as key reasons for the backlog, though they expect improvements this year.
By contrast, the Kyffhäuser district processed applications the fastest, with an average of just 16 days as of October last year. Regional differences in processing times stem from factors such as staffing levels at local parental allowance offices, the ability to fill vacancies promptly, and the volume of applications received. Other contributing factors include incomplete documentation, reliance on input from other authorities, and varying degrees of digitalization.
Parental allowance can be applied for from the birth of a child. The federal law governing it has undergone multiple revisions since its introduction in 2007, increasing its complexity, officials noted. Thuringia, alongside other states, is now advocating for simplifications to the legislation.
Authorities also emphasized the need to accelerate digitalization. In the future, applicants in Thuringia should be able to submit, sign, and process their applications entirely online. The state government anticipates this will streamline procedures and reduce waiting times. Currently, while applicants can enter their data online and generate a PDF, they must still print, sign, and mail the form to the relevant office.
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