Have my child's maintenance advance checked annually
Service description
The advance on child support is a government benefit for children of single parents. The advance on child support is a social benefit through which youth welfare offices provide support to single parents with at least one child for whom they are obligated to pay child support.
The advance on child support helps single parents ensure their child’s financial well-being. To qualify, the other parent must not be paying child support at all, or must be paying only part of it, or must not be paying it regularly. The other parent must repay the advance later if they fail to pay child support even though they are able to pay all or part of it.
The relevant advance child support agency reviews your eligibility for advance child support annually.
For the review, you must answer the relevant questions and submit the required documents.
Notify the advance child support office immediately of any changes in your circumstances throughout the entire period during which you are receiving benefits.
Contact the advance child support office even if you are unsure. Doing so can help you avoid potential demands for repayment of benefits.Procedure
- You will receive a verification questionnaire from the relevant advance child support agency, which you must complete truthfully. If you refuse to complete it, your benefits may be revoked.
- Please send the verification questionnaire informally to the advance child support office.
- If you and your (still) spouse are living apart, a special review—for example, regarding tax brackets—may be necessary.
- The Child Support Advance Payment Office will review your documents and contact you if any additional information is needed.
- You will receive either approval or a rejection.
Prerequisites
- You and your child live together in Germany
- You are already receiving advance child support payments.
- You are a single parent and live with your child in the same household.
- You are raising your child on your own and clearly bear the primary responsibility for their upbringing (no shared custody arrangement)
- They are not (newly) married
- The other parent pays your child no child support, pays it only irregularly, or pays an amount that is less than the advance on child support
- You can also receive advance child support payments even if the child’s father has not been identified. It does not matter whether there is a court ruling on paternity or an acknowledgment of paternity on file with the Youth Welfare Office.
- Even if you are a widow or widower, you can receive advance child support payments for your child
- Foreign children are eligible only if they hold certain residence permits
- The following additional requirements apply to children ages 12 to 17:
- Your child is not dependent on SGB II benefits
- With the advance on child support, your child would not be dependent on SGB II benefits; or, if you receive SGB II benefits, you must also have your own income of at least 600 EUR gross per month
- You can also receive advance child support payments even if the child’s father has not been identified. It does not matter whether there is a court ruling on paternity or an acknowledgment of paternity on file with the Youth Welfare Office.
What documents are required?
- Proof of Failure to Make Child Support Payments
- if applicable, proof of both parents' income
What fees apply?
There are no costs involved.
What deadlines do I have to observe?
Notify the advance child support office immediately if your circumstances change.
Legal basis
Section 9.12 of the Guidelines for the Implementation of the Advance Child Support Act (UVG_RL)
- Act on Ensuring Child Support for Single Mothers and Fathers Through Advance Child Support Payments or Compensation for Unpaid Child Support (Advance Child Support Act) § 1, Paragraph 3: Eligible Persons
- Act on Ensuring Child Support for Single Mothers and Fathers Through Advance Child Support Payments or Compensation for Unpaid Child Support (Advance Child Support Act) § 2 Scope of Child Support Payments
- Act on Ensuring Child Support for Single Mothers and Fathers Through Advance Child Support Payments or Compensation for Unpaid Child Support (Advance Child Support Act) § 6 Duty to Provide Information and Report
Legal remedy
- Objection
- Action for Performance
What else should I know?
There are no notes or special considerations.
Additional Information
Issuing body
Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth (BMFSFJ)