Getting child-rearing periods recognised for your German pension (V0800)
Child-rearing periods (Kindererziehungszeiten) cover a child's first three years: they begin after the end of the month of birth and end after 36 calendar months (§ 56(1) and (5) SGB VI); for a child born before 1 January 1992 they end after 30 calendar months (§ 249(1) SGB VI). On top of that comes a consideration period (Berücksichtigungszeit) up to the child's tenth birthday (§ 57 SGB VI). The periods are credited to ONE parent only — parents raising the child together decide which one by a joint declaration, which works only for the future and at most two calendar months back (§ 56(2) SGB VI). The application is made with form V0800 of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung.
Up to date for 2026 — verified on September 23, 2026Official formGuide: about 35 min
Deadlines
- Child-rearing period: from the month after birth, 36 calendar months
- § 56(5), first sentence, SGB VI. If another child is raised during this time, the period for that and every further child is extended by the months of simultaneous child-rearing (second sentence). For children born before 1 January 1992 it ends 30 calendar months after the end of the month of birth (§ 249(1) SGB VI)
- Consideration period: up to the tenth birthday
- § 57, first sentence, SGB VI — insofar as the conditions for the child-rearing period are also met during that time
- Attribution declaration: for future months, at most two months back
- § 56(2), fifth and sixth sentences, SGB VI — no retroactive effect if a benefit taking these periods into account has already been granted with binding effect for one parent, or a pension-rights adjustment or pension splitting has been carried out
Documents to prepare
- Pension insurance number (Versicherungsnummer)
- Personal details and address; if living abroad, your last residence in Germany
- For each child: name, place and country of birth, date of birth, date of death if applicable
- Birth certificates or family register (Familienbuch / Stammbuch)
- Periods of child-rearing, residence in the former GDR or abroad if applicable
- Details of civil-service or church pension schemes, self-employment and employment abroad during the child-rearing
- For joint child-rearing: details of the other parent and their insurance number
- For step- or foster children: supplementary questionnaire V0805
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Who this applies to
- The parent who raised the child in its first three years and to whom the child-rearing period is attributed (§ 56(1) and (2) SGB VI)
- According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, besides birth parents also adoptive, step- and foster parents, and grandparents or relatives when the child lives with them permanently as a foster child
- Parents who lived abroad with the child, if they have compulsory contribution periods there because of an employment or self-employment — during the child-rearing or immediately before the birth (§ 56(3), second sentence, SGB VI)
- Self-employed parents: the child-rearing period is credited; the consideration period, however, only covers periods of more than marginal self-employment insofar as they are also compulsory contribution periods (§ 57, second sentence, SGB VI)
- NOT anyone who, during the child-rearing period, acquired pension entitlements because of the child-rearing that are taken into account in a broadly equivalent way — expressly civil-service pensions (§ 56(4) no. 3 SGB VI)
- NOT anyone who was outside compulsory insurance only because of a temporary posting to Germany or under inter- or supranational law (§ 56(4) no. 1 SGB VI)
- NOT both parents for the same month: where several parents raised the child together, the period is attributed to one parent (§ 56(2), second sentence, SGB VI)
Worked example
Sofia and Tobias Brandt share their son's child-rearing period
Sofia Brandt is an employed bookkeeper; her husband Tobias is a self-employed graphic designer earning a profit of about 2,000 euros a month, not compulsorily insured and with hardly any pension entitlements of his own. Their son Emil is born on 14 March 2024; both then work part-time and raise him equally. The child-rearing period begins after the end of the month of birth, in April 2024, and ends after 36 calendar months, in March 2027 (§ 56(5) SGB VI). Without a declaration it would go to Sofia: neither parent raises the child predominantly, so the period is attributed to the mother (§ 56(2) SGB VI). Because Tobias otherwise pays almost no contributions and would be compulsorily insured in months with credited child-rearing periods (§ 3, first sentence, no. 1 SGB VI), they make a joint declaration in his favour on 15 September 2025. It works for future months and at most two calendar months back, i.e. from July 2025 (§ 56(2), fifth and sixth sentences, SGB VI); April 2024 to June 2025 remain with Sofia. Had they waited until 15 December, July to September would also have stayed with her. For the consideration period up to Emil's tenth birthday, one restriction applies to Tobias: his more than marginal self-employment only counts insofar as it is a compulsory contribution period (§ 57, second sentence, SGB VI). The amounts are illustrative.
How to fill it in, step by step
- Work out who predominantly raised the child in which months and, if you raised the child together, decide to which parent the period should be attributed (§ 56(2) SGB VI).
- If the period should not go to the parent who would receive it without a declaration, make the joint declaration in good time: it works only for the future and at most two calendar months back (§ 56(2), fifth and sixth sentences, SGB VI).
- Check whether you also need the supplementary questionnaire on child-rearing (form V0805) or the declaration on attribution in case of joint child-rearing (form V0820) — the pension insurance provides both alongside the V0800.
- Complete form V0800, online via eAntrag — which the pension insurance recommends — or as a PDF.
- Check your insurance record to see whether the periods have been registered — according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung they are then taken into account automatically for your pension.
Good to know
- During the time for which child-rearing periods are credited to them, parents are compulsorily insured (§ 3, first sentence, no. 1 SGB VI) — according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, child-rearing periods are compulsory contributions, and one year brings almost one earnings point (Entgeltpunkt).
- According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, these contributions are credited in addition to your own contributions from employment, up to the contribution ceiling.
- Without a joint declaration, the period goes to the parent who predominantly raised the child; if that cannot be established, to the mother, for same-sex parents to the parent under §§ 1591 or 1592 of the Civil Code (BGB) or, failing that, to whoever became a parent first; otherwise it alternates monthly, starting with the older parent (§ 56(2) SGB VI).
- According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, the consideration period starts on the day of birth and is not extended when further children are born; it counts mainly towards the qualifying period (Wartezeit).
- For child-rearing periods before 1 January 1986 it is enough to make the facts credible (§ 249(5) SGB VI); if the mother died before that date, the whole period is attributed to the father (§ 249(6) SGB VI).
- For pensions that include a supplement under § 307d SGB VI, § 249(7) and (8) SGB VI contain different rules on the length of the period for children born before 1992.
Common mistakes
- Making the attribution declaration years later. It works for future months and at most two calendar months back (§ 56(2), fifth and sixth sentences, SGB VI).
- Assuming both parents get the period for the same months. It is attributed to one parent (§ 56(2), second sentence, SGB VI); the attribution can, however, be limited to part of the child-rearing period (fourth sentence).
- Counting on 36 months for a child born before 1992. For these children the period ends after 30 calendar months (§ 249(1) SGB VI).
- As a civil servant, expecting child-rearing periods in the statutory pension scheme although your pension scheme takes child-rearing into account equivalently. § 56(4) no. 3 SGB VI excludes this.
- As a self-employed person, expecting the consideration period for the whole activity. For more than marginal self-employment it only applies insofar as these are compulsory contribution periods (§ 57, second sentence, SGB VI).
- Leaving out child-rearing abroad. It only counts like child-rearing in Germany under the conditions of § 56(3) SGB VI.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the child-rearing period?
It begins after the end of the month of birth and ends after 36 calendar months (§ 56(5) SGB VI). For children born before 1 January 1992 it ends after 30 calendar months (§ 249(1) SGB VI).
What is the consideration period?
The period of child-rearing up to the child's tenth birthday, insofar as the conditions for the child-rearing period are also met then (§ 57 SGB VI). According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung it counts mainly towards the qualifying period.
Who gets the period, mother or father?
The parent who raised the child. For joint child-rearing the parents decide by a joint declaration; without one, whoever raised the child predominantly gets it, and otherwise in principle the mother (§ 56(2) SGB VI).
Can the attribution be changed retroactively?
Only for at most two calendar months before the declaration, and not if a benefit has already been granted with binding effect, or a pension-rights adjustment or pension splitting has been carried out (§ 56(2), sixth sentence, SGB VI).
Does child-rearing abroad count?
If the parent lived abroad with the child and has compulsory contribution periods there because of an employment or self-employment — during the child-rearing or immediately before the birth; in some cases such periods of the spouse suffice (§ 56(3) SGB VI).
How do I apply?
With form V0800 of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, online via eAntrag — which the pension insurance recommends — or as a PDF form. According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, child-rearing periods are in principle applied for as part of an account clarification (Kontenklärung).
Go further
Official sources
- § 56 SGB VI — Child-rearing periods (Gesetze im Internet, Federal Ministry of Justice) — September 23, 2026
- § 57 SGB VI — Consideration periods — September 23, 2026
- § 249 SGB VI — Contribution periods for child-rearing (children born before 1992) — September 23, 2026
- § 3 SGB VI — Other insured persons (first sentence, no. 1: child-rearing periods) — September 23, 2026
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung — Child-rearing: your plus for the pension — September 23, 2026
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung — Form V0800, application for recognition of child-rearing and consideration periods — September 23, 2026
Guide and document provided for information purposes only; they do not constitute personalised legal or tax advice. Check the recipient organisation's requirements and consult a professional if needed.