Unterhaltsvorschuss beantragen

• § 1 Unterhaltsvorschussgesetz (UVG) – Berechtigte
• § 2 UVG – Umfang der Unterhaltsleistung
• § 6 UVG – Auskunfts- und Anzeigepflicht

Applying for maintenance advance and notification of change

Mothers and fathers who bring up their child alone are usually confronted with difficult circumstances. This situation is exacerbated if the child does not receive at least the usual standard maintenance from the other parent or does not receive it on time. Benefits under the Maintenance Advance Act are intended to ease this particular life situation.

The advance payment can be granted if a child does not receive any, regular or sufficient maintenance from the parent liable for cash maintenance. The payment ends at the latest when the entitled child reaches the age of majority.

How much is the maintenance advance?

The monthly payment amount from 01.01.2025 is as follows

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

If the debtor pays at least partial maintenance, the amount paid out is reduced accordingly. The same applies to certain incomes of children who no longer attend a general school.

Notification of change to maintenance advance

If you receive maintenance advance, you must inform the Youth Welfare Office (Maintenance Advance Office) immediately of any changes that may affect your entitlement.

Examples of changes that affect your entitlement:

• Your child no longer lives with you.
• You move house.
• You get married.
• You move in with the other parent.
• The other parent pays maintenance again or wants to pay maintenance again.
• You become aware of the previously unknown whereabouts of the other parent.
• The other parent has died.
• The child has died.
• The child no longer attends school.
• The income of the child who no longer attends school changes.

Attention! The other parent is not released from their maintenance obligation by the maintenance advance. If he or she is fully or partially able to pay but unwilling to do so, the paying authority will demand the advance maintenance payment back from him or her.

• Application form (Forms & Online Services)
• Identity card
• Birth certificate
• for children over 12 years of age: SGB II notification
• Acknowledgement of paternity

for children 15 years and older

• School certificate
• Training contract
• Proof of voluntary service (FSJ, FÖJ or comparable service)
• Income documents (wage statements, income from capital assets, income from renting and leasing, trade etc.)

if applicable:

• Divorce decree
• Documents on the judicial assertion of maintenance claims
• Declaration of permanent separation (tax office form, letter from lawyer)
• Residence permit of the caring parent and the child
• if applicable, death certificate of the other parent and proof of receipt of a half-orphan's pension

The other parent

• evades the payment obligations,
• is wholly or partially unable to pay maintenance, or
• is deceased.

The child

• has not yet reached the age of 18,
• must live in the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany with one of his or her parents who is single, widowed or divorced or who lives permanently separated from his or her spouse/life partner,
• does not receive or does not regularly receive maintenance from the other parent or, if the other parent or a stepparent has died, orphan's benefits amounting to the statutory standard amount.

for children aged 12 and over (in addition):

• the child itself does not receive any benefits according to the German Social Code (SGB II) or the child's need for assistance according to SGB II can be avoided by the advance maintenance payment or
• the single parent has own income of at least EUR 600.00 gross per month (excluding child benefit) as income to be taken into account in the sense of SGB II.

There is no entitlement if, for example

• both parents live in the same household,
• the parent taking care of the child remarries, or
• the child is placed in a home or in full-time care.

none

Advance maintenance payments must be applied for in writing by the parent with whom the child lives. It is recommended that you seek advice from the Youth Welfare Office beforehand.

• You can obtain the application form and a detailed information sheet from the competent office or online via Amt24.
• You can submit the completed application in person or in writing.
• When you submit an application, you must state, among other things, the name and place of residence of the other parent, if you know them (obligation to cooperate). Otherwise, the entitlement to advance maintenance payments is excluded.

none

­Objection (details in the official notification)