Unterhaltsvorschuss für Kinder von Alleinerziehenden beantragen

Are you a single parent and receive no or only partial maintenance from the other parent? Then you can apply for an advance on maintenance payments under certain conditions.

You will receive advance maintenance payments for your child if you are raising it in your household without another parent against whom the child is entitled to maintenance. However, this maintenance is not paid by the other parent or the person obliged to pay maintenance, or is paid incompletely or irregularly.

The child's center of life must clearly be in your household. You must not have married a new partner.

If the eligibility requirements are met, the maintenance advance will be paid to you until your child reaches the age of majority. The limit on the duration of receipt (previously a maximum of 72 months) has been lifted.

The amount of the maintenance advance is based on the minimum maintenance amount.

The following amounts will apply from 01.01.2025:

• EUR 227.00 per month for children up to 5 years of age
• for children from 6 to 11 years EUR 299.00 per month
• for children from 12 to 17 years EUR 394.00 per month

After the age of 12, your child is only entitled to maintenance if one of the following conditions is met:

• You or your child do not receive a citizen's allowance.
• Advance maintenance payments can prevent your child from needing assistance.
• You have a gross monthly income of at least EUR 600.00 and receive supplementary citizen's allowance.

This ensures that, if necessary, all children receive maintenance advance without any gaps. At the same time, an important incentive is created for households that are not in need of assistance or that could become independent of basic income support benefits through their own earned income to secure their own livelihood.

The maintenance advance is always paid at the beginning of a calendar month and can be applied for retroactively for one month.

• Application form
  
  • additionally required, depending on the individual case
  • the birth certificate of the child concerned
  • the identity card of the single parent
  • for foreign children or parents: identity card and valid proof of residence permit
  • the maintenance title: current maintenance determination, maintenance certificate, judgment, order
  • in the case of separation of a marriage: divorce decree
  • if applicable, letter from the lawyer about the date of separation
  • the current tax card
  • for unmarried parents: Acknowledgment or establishment of paternity
  • Proof of income:
    • Child benefit
    • Half-orphan's pension, if applicable
    • Maintenance payments, if applicable
  • If applicable, notifications of approval/recruitment of benefits under the Maintenance Advance Act from other maintenance advance funds

The following conditions must be met before advance maintenance payments can be granted:

• Child maintenance is not paid or is only paid in part.
• Your child is resident or habitually resident in Germany.
• The parent is a single parent (also widowed, for example).
• The parent and the child must live in the same household.
• Foreign children are only entitled if they have certain residence permits.

There are no costs.

You can apply for advance maintenance payments in writing to the youth welfare office responsible for your place of residence. An electronic application is possible if the authority provides a corresponding online procedure.

The documents you need to submit depend on your individual case.

Once your application has been received, the maintenance advance office will check whether you are entitled to it. You will receive a decision from the maintenance advance office.

You are obliged to provide the information required to implement the Maintenance Advance Act. You must cooperate in establishing paternity or the whereabouts of the other parent. You must inform the Maintenance Advance Office immediately of any changes in your circumstances during the entire period in which you receive benefits.

Advance maintenance payments can be granted retroactively for one month if the requirements were already met at that time.

The following information is available:

• Children between the ages of 12 and 18 are only entitled to an advance on maintenance payments if the child is not dependent on SGB II benefits or if the single parent in receipt of SGB II benefits has a gross income of at least EUR 600.00.
• The other parent must repay the maintenance advance to the maintenance advance office. If the maintenance debtor does not pay, the maintenance advance office can sue for repayment and enforce it.

• Objection (deadline: 1 month)

• Maintenance advance approval
• Under certain conditions, a child can receive maintenance advance
• Prerequisites:
  • Child maintenance is not paid or is only paid in part
  • The child is resident or habitually resident in Germany
  • Foreign children are only entitled if they have certain residence permits.
  • Children up to up to the age of 18
  • Parent is a single parent (e.g. also widowed)
  • Parent and child must live in the same household
• Advance maintenance payments can also be granted if it is not clear who the father is
• Amount from 01.01.2025:
  • Children up to 5 years EUR 227.00 per month
  • Children from 6 to 11 years EUR 299.00 per month
  • Children from 12 to 17 years EUR 394.00 per month
• Responsible: Maintenance advance office of the municipality

Contact the youth welfare office in your district or city.

Informal application possible: No
Personal appearance necessary: No