Apply for advance maintenance payments for children of single parents

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.

Which documents you need to submit depends on your individual case.

Once your application has been received, the advance maintenance payment office will check whether you are eligible. You will receive a notification from the advance maintenance payment office informing you of their decision.

You are obliged to provide any information required for the implementation of the Advance Maintenance Payment Act. You must cooperate in establishing the paternity or whereabouts of the other parent. For the entire period during which you receive benefits, you must immediately notify the advance maintenance payment office of any changes in your circumstances.

Contact the youth welfare office in your district or city.

The following requirements must be met for the authorisation of advance maintenance payments:

• Your child is under 12 years old and fulfils the following conditions:
  • Child maintenance is not paid or is only paid in part or no or insufficient orphan's benefits are paid.
  • Your child is resident or ordinarily resident in Germany.
  • You may also be entitled to this if you live abroad with your child but are fully liable for income tax in Germany:
    • The joint place of residence is in a country of the European Union (EU), in the European Economic Area (EEA) or in Switzerland.
    • The single parent is resident in Germany.
  • You are a single parent. You are also considered a single parent if you are widowed.
  • You and the child must live in the same household.
  • Foreign children are only entitled to this if they have certain residence permits.
• Your child is 12 to 17 years old and fulfils the following conditions:
  • Your child does 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 may receive supplementary citizen's allowance.
  • Child maintenance is not paid or is only paid in part or no or insufficient orphan's benefits are paid.
  • Your child is resident or ordinarily resident in Germany.
  • You may also be entitled to this if you live abroad with your child but are fully liable for income tax in Germany:
    • The joint place of residence is in a country of the European Union (EU), in the European Economic Area (EEA) or in Switzerland.
    • The single parent is resident in Germany.
  • You are a single parent. You are also considered a single parent if you are widowed.
  • You and the child must live in the same household.
  • Foreign children are only entitled to this if they have certain residence permits.

• Application form
• is additionally required depending on the individual case:
  • the birth certificate of the child concerned
  • the identity card of the single parent
  • Confirmation of registration or information from the register of residents
  • for foreign children or parents:
    • ID card
    • valid proof of residence permit
  • Maintenance title:
    • Current maintenance determination, maintenance certificate, judgement, decision
  • in the event of marital separation:
    • Divorce decree, if applicable, letter from the lawyer about the date of separation
  • for unmarried parents:
    • Acknowledgement or establishment of paternity
  • Proof of income:
    • Child benefit
    • Half-orphan's pension, if applicable
    • Maintenance payments, if applicable
  • If applicable, authorisation or cessation notices regarding benefits under the Maintenance Advance Act from other maintenance advance funds
  • from the age of 12, if you are currently receiving SGB II benefits, a complete, up-to-date notification from the job centre
  • from the age of 15, additionally the school certificate or, from the end of school attendance, proof of income.

• § Section 1612a (1) sentence 3 no. 1 or 2 of the German Civil Code (BGB)
• § Section 1 Act on Securing the Maintenance of Children of Single Mothers and Fathers through Advance Maintenance Payments or Loss of Maintenance Payments (Maintenance Advance Act)

• Contradiction

The following information is available:

• The other parent must repay the maintenance advance to the maintenance advance office. If the person liable to pay maintenance does not pay, the maintenance advance office can sue for repayment and enforce it.

• Information brochure on advance maintenance payments on the website of the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
• Important facts about advance maintenance payments at a glance on the Family Portal website

• Requirements for receiving maintenance advance:
  • Child maintenance is not paid or only paid in part or orphan's benefits are too low
  • Child is resident or habitually resident in Germany
  • Foreign children are only entitled to this if they have certain residence permits
  • Child is a minor
    • Entitlement up to a maximum of 18 years of age
  • Parent is a single parent, for example also widowed
  • Parent and child must live in the same household
  • Parent must not be (newly) married
• Advance maintenance payments can also be granted if it is not clear who the father is
  • However, the single parent is obliged to co-operate in establishing paternity
• height (as of 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

• Apply for advance maintenance payments for children of single parents in Saxony-Anhalt

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