Unterhaltsvorschuss für Kinder von Alleinerziehenden beantragen

Are you a single parent and receive no/only partial maintenance from the other parent? The other parent is deceased and the half-orphan's pension is less than the maintenance advance amount? Then you can receive an advance on maintenance payments under certain conditions.

You will receive an advance on maintenance payments for your child if he or she does not receive any or insufficient maintenance from the parent far from the family or does not receive any or insufficient half-orphan's pension. You must live in the same household as your child and be single, widowed, divorced or separated.

Advance maintenance payments are paid for your child up to the age of 12, and in some circumstances even up to the age of 18. The prerequisite for this is that your child does not receive any benefits in accordance with SGB II, i.e. citizen's allowance, that the maintenance advance can be used to avoid a need for assistance within the meaning of SGB II (citizen's allowance) or that you earn an income within the meaning of § 11 SGB II in the gross amount of 600 euros.

The amount of the maintenance advance is based on the amount of the minimum maintenance, which is regulated in the Minimum Maintenance Ordinance. The minimum maintenance minus the child benefit of currently 250 euros equals the maintenance advance amount.

From 01.01.2024, the following amounts apply

• for children up to 5 years: EUR 230.00 per month
• for children from 6 to 11 years: EUR 301.00 per month
• for children from 12 to 17 years: EUR 395.00 per month

This ensures that all children receive advance maintenance payments if necessary. 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 granted retroactively for one month under certain conditions.

• Application completed and signed and, 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 confirmation of registration or registration information
  • the maintenance title: current maintenance determination, maintenance certificate, judgment, order
  • in the case of separation of a marriage: divorce decree
  • if applicable, a letter from the lawyer about the date of separation
  • for unmarried parents: Acknowledgment or establishment of paternity and proof of joint custody, if this exists
  • Proof of income:
    • half-orphan's pension, if applicable
    • Maintenance payments, if applicable
    • if applicable, benefits according to SGB II (citizen's allowance)
    • earned income of the single parent
    • If applicable, the child's training allowance
  • 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.

In order for maintenance advance to be paid, an application must be submitted by the parent caring for the child or the child's legal representative to the relevant maintenance advance office. You can find this at the youth welfare office of your district or city administration. If necessary, you will also receive assistance in completing your application.

The application can be made in writing using the form available from your maintenance advance office or online at some maintenance advance offices.

Please inform your maintenance advance office immediately of any changes that may affect the maintenance advance. You are obliged to do this as soon as you have submitted the application. This obligation applies for as long as the maintenance advance is paid. For example, you must inform the maintenance advance office if

• 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,
• the other parent dies or

If your child no longer attends a general school:

• if your child's income changes, for example because the amount of the training allowance changes.

Under certain circumstances, maintenance advance can be granted retroactively for one month. Please contact your maintenance advance office about this.

The following information applies:

• 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 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:
  • The child has not yet reached the age of 12
  • The child is resident or habitually resident in Germany
  • Single parent and child must live in the same household
  • Single parent must be single, widowed, divorced or separated
  • Child maintenance or half-orphan's pension is not paid or not paid in sufficient amount
  • Foreign children with certain residence permits may also be entitled to an advance on maintenance payments
  • Children up to the age of 18 may be entitled beyond the above-mentioned requirements if they do not receive benefits in accordance with SGB II/citizen's allowance, can avoid needing assistance in the sense of SGB II/citizen's allowance with the help of the maintenance advance or the single parent earns an income of at least 600 euros gross in accordance with §11 SGB II
  • Children who are already earning training allowances may still be entitled to maintenance advance (calculated by the maintenance advance office)
• Amount from 01.01.2024:
  • Children up to 5 years EUR 230.00 per month
  • Children from 6 to 11 years EUR 301.00 per month
  • Children from 12 to 17 years EUR 395.00 per month
• Responsible: Maintenance advance office at the youth welfare office responsible for you

Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) - Service-Team

Telephone

+49 30 20179130

E-mail

info@bmfsfjservice.bund.de

WWW

contact form

The maintenance advance offices in the youth welfare offices of the districts and independent towns in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

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