If you are a single parent and receive little or no maintenance from the other parent, you can receive an advance on maintenance payments under certain conditions until your child's 18th birthday.

The requirements for receiving maintenance advance are

• You are a single parent and do not live with the other (step) parent
• You cooperate, if necessary, in the paternity declaration of your child
• The other parent pays you no or too little child maintenance
• Your child is under 18 years old
  At the age of 12 - 17, however, only on the additional condition that your child either does not receive any benefits from the Jobcenter or that their needs are covered by the maintenance advance or that you only top up the benefits from the Jobcenter and earn at least 600 euros gross income per month (this includes your income from work, pensions, from the employment office and the basic parental allowance of 300 euros)
• Your child or you are a German citizen or have a specific residence permit
• Advance maintenance payments can also be granted for half-orphans

Amount of benefit

The amount of the possible maintenance advance depends on the age of the child. The amount of the benefit is

0 to 5 years: 227 euros
6 to 11 years: 299 euros
12 to 17 years: 394 euros

The direct maintenance payment, half-orphan's pension and part of any income from work/training your child may have will be deducted from these amounts. Unlike social assistance, the UVG benefit amount is independent of your income.