Family Financial Benefits

Advice and Support

The purpose of counseling or assistance provided by the Youth Welfare Office is to help you assert your claims for child support. Cash child support can only be claimed if the father and mother do not live in the same household. Such counseling or assistance is provided exclusively upon request by a parent with custody.

Pursuant to Section 18 of SGB VIII, child support is specifically divided into child support, support for care, and support for young adults. Our services are designed to facilitate an amicable resolution regarding the child support claim and the child’s paternity.

Guardianship

Guardianship refers to a specific form of legal representation for children and adolescents. Guardianship takes effect only upon application by the parent with custody who has the child in their care. The application may include a request for acknowledgment of paternity and/or the assertion of child support claims. However, before guardianship can be applied for, counseling or support must first be sought. This is aimed at reaching an amicable, out-of-court settlement.

A guardianship does not restrict your parental authority. However, for all tasks related to the guardianship—such as verifying the income level of the person obligated to pay child support, taking into account new legal procedures, or even in court proceedings—only the guardian is authorized to represent the child.

Families receive child benefits to help cover the basic needs of their children. Eligibility continues until the child reaches the age of 25 at the latest.

Families receive child benefits for each child. The amount of the child benefits is not based on the parents' income or assets.

The child supplement is a benefit for families who need assistance. Families can receive the child supplement in addition to child benefit.

The amount depends on income and assets. The minimum income threshold must be taken into account.

The various benefits for education and participation support children, adolescents, and young adults from low-income families. This allows them to take advantage of services in the areas of school, daycare, culture, sports, and recreation.

• The amount depends on the service used.

Maternity benefits typically provide an expectant mother with income for six weeks before and eight weeks after the birth. Women who are not members of a statutory health insurance plan may be eligible for a one-time maternity benefit from the Federal Social Security Office.

•   The amount is based on the average net income over the last three months.

Please contact the health insurance company with which you are insured.

Parental Allowance / Parental Allowance Plus compensates for lost income during the postnatal care period.

The amount depends on your monthly net income and is capped at a certain amount.

You can apply for a grant to help cover the cost of initial baby supplies at the Jobcenter or through the Federal Foundation “Mother and Child.” You may be eligible for this grant even if you are not receiving other benefits.

The subsidy may be provided in the form of cash or in-kind benefits. Proof of need must be provided.

A reduction or waiver of child care premiums is possible. Employers may also provide a child care subsidy.

The amount of the reduction or exemption from childcare costs depends on income.

BAföG/AFBG is a form of government financial aid consisting of a grant and an interest-free loan. It offers teenagers and young adults the opportunity to pursue vocational training or further education. If you have questions about the BAföG for students or the study start grant, please contact the Studentenwerk responsible for your place of study.

The amount of BAföG/AFBG depends on various factors and varies from person to person.

Apprentices can receive a vocational training allowance as a grant.

The amount of the vocational training grant depends on housing and income.

The education loan is a fixed-term, low-interest loan for high school and college students between the ages of 18 and 36, intended to cover educational expenses not covered by BAföG.

• Loan amounts ranging from 1,000 euros* to 7,200 euros* can be disbursed in monthly installments, along with an additional one-time payment of 3,600 euros*.