Advance on maintenance payments; application

Your child will receive maintenance advance if the other parent does not pay maintenance for the child, pays less than the maintenance advance amount or pays irregularly and if you raise the child in your household predominantly without the other parent. The child's main place of residence must be in your household. You have not (re)married.
The benefit is also available if the other parent is deceased.

You must submit an application. 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 depends on the age of the children and since January 1, 2025 has been a maximum of

• for children aged 0 to 5 up to 227 euros,
• up to 299 euros for children aged 6 to 11,
• up to 394 euros for children aged 12 to 17.

Together with the child benefit (since 1.1.2026: €259/month), the benefit covers the child's minimum maintenance.

The Free State of Bavaria reclaims maintenance from the other parent 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,
• lives with a parent who is single, widowed, divorced or permanently separated.

Special additional requirements apply to children aged twelve and over. They are only entitled if

• the child does not receive benefits in accordance with the German Social Security Code II (Bürgergeld) or
• the child's need for assistance can be avoided through the maintenance advance or
• the parent caring for the child has an income of at least €600.

There is therefore no entitlement in the following cases, for example:

• The mother, who is not married to the father, does not cooperate in establishing paternity and his whereabouts.
  Cooperation also includes the mother doing everything reasonable to find the father as soon as the pregnancy is established.
• Both parents live together in the same household or the child is significantly cared for by the other parent.
• The parent with whom the child lives has remarried. It does not matter whether the new spouse is the child's parent or another person. Marriages abroad are also relevant.
• The child lives in a home or in full-time care.

Children with foreign nationality are entitled to an advance on maintenance payments under certain conditions.

Certain income is offset against the maintenance advance, in particular

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

• 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.

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

You are obliged to inform the Youth Welfare Office of any changes, for example if

• you move house,
• you get married,
• you move in with the other parent,
• the amount of childcare provided by the other parent increases more than just slightly,
• the other parent pays maintenance,
• you become aware of the previously unknown whereabouts of the other parent,
• your child no longer attends a general school and the child's income changes or
• your child no longer lives with you.

The information in the application form, information sheet and notification from the maintenance advance office is important.

Advance maintenance payments can also be granted retroactively for one month if the requirements were already met at the time and maintenance has already been claimed from the other parent.

• Central documents are
  
  • Birth certificate of the child
  • for foreign children or parents who are not entitled to freedom of movement: a valid residence permit
• and, for example, depending on the individual case
  
  • Maintenance title (e.g. maintenance certificate, judgment or order)
  • divorce decree
  • for unmarried parents: Acknowledgment or establishment of paternity
  • Proof of
    • maintenance payments
    • Reminders for maintenance payments
  • Jobcenter notices (for children aged 12 and over)
  • School certificate (for children aged 15 and over)
  • Notification of half-orphan's pension
  • Notices of approval/cancellation of benefits under the Maintenance Advance Act from other maintenance advance offices

  Depending on the individual case, different documents may be required. Evidence from other authorities can possibly be replaced by consent to the provision of information by this authority. Information on this can be obtained from the maintenance advance office.