German home childcare allowance benefits 64,877 children in 2013

Home childcare allowance was granted in Germany a total of 64,877 times since its introduction on Aug 1 to Dec 31 last year, according to German Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden (Destatis) on Thursday.

The first results of the statistics on the home childcare allowance only include the actual receipts of the benefit that had been ordered for payment in the relevant period, said Destatis.

Since first day of August in 2013, German parents are entitled to 100 euros (139 U.S. dollars) per month up to 22 months, if they neither put their children into the publicly funded day care centers, nor use the publicly funded day care services, after the babies turn 15 months old.

According to Destatis, about 78 percent of the recipients have applied for the maximum possible period of 22 months.