Apply for advance maintenance payments for children of single parents
Service description
If you are a single parent, your child is generally entitled to child support from the other parent. If the other parent pays child support
- not
- incomplete or
- irregular,
You can apply for an advance on child support.
Children who have lost one parent may also be entitled to an advance on child support if they receive no or insufficient orphan’s benefits.
The child’s primary residence must clearly be in your household. Under the alternating custody arrangement, you are therefore not entitled to advance child support payments. You must not have married a new partner.
If you meet the eligibility requirements, you will receive the advance child support payments until your child reaches the age of majority.
The amount of the advance on child support is calculated based on the applicable minimum child support rates, minus any child benefit payments and, if applicable, minus any child support payments or orphan's benefits already being received.
The following amounts currently apply (as of 2026):
- For children up to 5 years old: 227.00 EUR per month
- For children ages 6 to 11: 299.00 EUR per month
- For children ages 12 to 17: 394.00 EUR per month
The advance on child support is always paid at the beginning of a calendar month and can be requested retroactively for one month.
Competent Authority
The child support advance offices within the youth welfare offices are responsible for this.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met for the approval of an advance on child support:
If your child is under 12 years old:
- Child support is not paid, or is paid only partially or irregularly; or no orphan's benefits—or insufficient benefits—are paid.
- Your child is a resident of Germany or has his or her habitual residence there.
- 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 eligible only if they hold certain residence permits.
- In exceptional cases and under certain conditions, it is also possible to receive an advance on child support if you live abroad with your child.
If your child is between the ages of 12 and 17, the following additional conditions must be met:
- Your child does not receive the basic income.
- Advance child support payments can help prevent your child from falling into need.
- You have a gross monthly income of at least 600.00 EUR and, if applicable, receive supplemental basic income.
What documents are required?
- Application Form
In addition, depending on the specific case, the following may be required:
- the birth certificate of the child in question
- the ID card of the single parent
- Confirmation of Registration or Information from the Registration Records
- For foreign children or parents:
- ID
- Valid proof of residence status
- Maintenance Orders:
- Current child support order, child support decree, judgment, ruling
- In the event of a divorce:
- Divorce decree; if applicable, a letter from the attorney stating the date the couple began living separately
- For unmarried parents:
- Acknowledgment or Determination of Paternity
- Proof of income for:
- Child Support
- half-orphan's pension, if applicable
- alimony, if applicable
- if applicable, notices of approval or termination regarding benefits under the Advance Maintenance Payments Act issued by other advance maintenance payment agencies
- For individuals who have reached the age of 12 and are currently receiving SGB II benefits, a complete and up-to-date decision from the Job Center is also required
- Starting at age 15, a school certificate is also required; or, upon completion of schooling, proof of income.
What fees apply?
There are no costs involved.
What deadlines do I have to observe?
The advance on child support may be granted retroactively for one month if the requirements were already met at that time.
Legal basis
Legal remedy
- Objection
- For more information on how to file an appeal, please refer to the notice.
- Objection
Applications / Forms
Many advance child support agencies in Hesse offer an online application service, such as “Unterhaltsvorschuss Online.” You can obtain
the paper application forms from your local youth welfare office.What else should I know?
The following information is available:
- The other parent must repay the advance child support to the advance child support office if he or she is financially able to do so at the time of payment. If the person obligated to pay child support fails to do so, the advance child support office may file a lawsuit to recover the payment and enforce the judgment.
Additional Information
Issuing body
Forwarding service: Deep link to the original portal- Applying for Child Support Advances for Children of Single Parents in Hesse
Display of performance in the source portal
- Applying for Child Support Advances for Children of Single Parents in Hesse