Administrative services A-Z

The maintenance advance is a state benefit for children of single parents. The maintenance advance is a social benefit with which the youth welfare offices support single parents with at least one dependent child.

The maintenance advance helps single parents to secure their child's financial livelihood. The prerequisite for this is that the other parent does not pay maintenance, or only partially or not regularly. The other parent must later repay the advance if they do not pay maintenance, although they could pay maintenance in full or in part.

The responsible maintenance advance office checks annually whether you are entitled to maintenance advance.

You must answer the relevant questions and submit documents for the check.

Inform the maintenance advance office immediately of any changes in your circumstances during the entire period in which you are receiving benefits.
Contact the maintenance advance office, even if you are unsure. This will help you to avoid possible reclaims of benefits.

• You and your child live together in Germany
• You already receive maintenance advance.
• You are a single parent and live with your child in the same household.
• You are raising your child alone and clearly have the main responsibility for raising your child (no alternating model)
• You are not (newly) married
• The other parent pays no or only irregular maintenance to your child or only maintenance that is less than the maintenance advance
• You can also receive maintenance advance if it is not clear who the child's father is. It does not matter whether there is a court judgment on paternity or an acknowledgement of paternity before the youth welfare office
• Even if you are widowed, you can receive advance maintenance payments for your child
• Foreign children are only eligible if they have certain residence permits
• The following additional requirements apply for children aged 12 to 17:
  • Your child is not dependent on SGB II benefits
  • Your child would not be dependent on SGB II benefits with the maintenance advance or if you receive SGB II benefits, you must also have your own income of at least EUR 600 gross per month
  • You can also receive maintenance advance if it is not clear who the father of the child is. It does not matter whether there is a court judgment on paternity or an acknowledgement of paternity before the youth welfare office

• Proof of failure to pay maintenance
• If applicable, proof of the income of both parents

There are no costs.

• You will receive a verification questionnaire from the responsible maintenance advance office, which you must complete truthfully. If you refuse to complete it, your benefit may be withdrawn.
• Send the verification questionnaire informally to the maintenance advance office.
• If you and your (still) spouse live separately, a special check may be necessary, for example with regard to tax classes.
• The Maintenance Advance Office will check your documents and contact you if additional documents need to be submitted.
• You will receive an approval or a rejection.

Inform the maintenance advance office immediately if your circumstances change.

Responsible local youth welfare organization

Maintenance advance office of the district or independent city

Point 9.12 of the Guidelines on the Implementation of the Advance Maintenance Payment Act (UVG_RL)

• Act on Securing the Maintenance of Children of Single Mothers and Fathers through Maintenance Advances or Loss of Maintenance Payments (Maintenance Advance Act) Section 1 (3) Entitled persons
• Act on Securing the Maintenance of Children of Single Mothers and Fathers through Maintenance Advances or Loss of Maintenance Payments (Maintenance Advance Act) § 2 Scope of maintenance payments
• Act on Securing the Maintenance of Children of Single Mothers and Fathers through Maintenance Advances or Loss of Maintenance Payments (Maintenance Advance Act) § 6 Duty to provide information and notification

There are no indications or special features.

• Further information on the maintenance advance on the family portal of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
• Brochure "Advance maintenance payments - help for single parents and their children"

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