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 calculated from the amount of the respective minimum maintenance rate less child benefit and, if applicable, less any maintenance payments or half-orphan's pensions already received.

From 01.01.2024, the following amounts apply (minimum maintenance less child benefit)

• EUR 230.00 per month for children up to 5 years of age
• For children from 6 to 11 years EUR 301.00 per month
• EUR 395.00 per month for children aged 12 to 17 inclusive

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 could become independent of basic security benefits through their own income from employment 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.

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 01.01.2023:
  • Children up to 5 years EUR 187.00 per month
  • Children from 6 to 11 years EUR 252.00 per month
  • Children from 12 to 17 years EUR 338.00 per month
• Responsible: Maintenance advance office of the municipality

To your responsible maintenance advance office.

Forms available: Yes
Written form required: Yes
Informal application possible : No
Personal appearance necessary: No