Advance maintenance payments; application

You can apply for an advance on child support if the other parent does not pay child support, pays less than the advance on child support, or pays it irregularly, and if you raise the child in your household mainly without the other parent. The child's center of life must be in your household. You have not (re)married.
The benefit is also eligible if the other parent is deceased.

If the eligibility requirements are met, the maintenance advance will be paid to you until your child reaches the age of majority.

The amount of the maintenance advance is based on the age of the children and since January 1, 2023, amounts to a monthly maximum:

• for children from 0 to 5 years up to 187 euros,
• for children from 6 to 11 years up to 252 euros,
• for children from 12 to 17 years up to 338 euros.

Together with the child benefit (from 1.1.2023: 250 € / month), the benefit covers the minimum child support.

To the other parent, the Free State of Bavaria reclaims maintenance in the amount of the advance, provided that the requirements under maintenance law are met.

The child

• receives no, little or only irregular maintenance from the other parent or orphan's benefits that are below the amount of the maintenance advance,
• lives in Germany,
• with a parent who is single, widowed or divorced or lives permanently separated.

Special additional requirements apply to children over twelve years. A claim have these only if

• the child does not receive benefits under the Social Code II (Citizen's Allowance) or
• through the maintenance advance the need for assistance of the child can be avoided or
• the caring parent has income of at least 600 €.

No claim therefore exists, for example, in the following cases:

• Both parents live together in one household or the child is significantly co-cared by the other parent.
• The parent with whom the child lives remarries.
• The child lives in a home or in full-time care.
• The mother, who is not married to the father, does not cooperate in the determination of paternity and his residence. The cooperation also includes, on the occasion of the establishment of pregnancy to do what is reasonable to locate the father.

Children with foreign nationality have under certain conditions a claim to advance maintenance.

To the maintenance advance certain income is counted, in particular

• maintenance payments received
• orphan's benefits
• in the case of children who no longer attend a general school, their own income.

• You can apply for the maintenance advance in writing at the youth welfare office responsible for the place of residence. An electronic application is possible if the authority provides a corresponding online procedure.
• .

  The documents required in addition to the application form (see under "Required documents") depend on the individual case.

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You are required to inform the youth welfare office of any changes, for example, if

• you move,
• you marry,
• you move in with the other parent,
• the extent of care of the child by the other parent increases not only slightly,
• the other parent pays alimony,
• you know the previously unknown whereabouts of the other parent,
• your child no longer goes to general education school and the child's income changes or
• your child no longer lives with you.

It is important to follow the instructions in the application form, leaflet and notice from the child support advance office.

The maintenance advance can also be granted retroactively for one month if the requirements were already met at the time and maintenance was already claimed from the other parent.

• Birth certificate of the child
• Identity card or passport of the single parent
• for foreign children or parents who are not entitled to freedom of movement: identity card and a valid proof of residence title
• Confirmation of registration or information from the population register
• If applicable, maintenance title (e.g. current maintenance determination, maintenance deed, judgment or order)
• Divorce decree, if applicable
• If applicable, in the case of unmarried couples: Acknowledgement or establishment of paternity
• Evidence about
  
  • Children's allowance
  • possible alimony payments
  • possible reminders for alimony payments
  • possible job center notices (for children 12 years and older)
  • possible half-orphan pension
• If applicable, approval/cancellation notices for benefits under the Advance Maintenance Payments Act from other advance maintenance payment offices.