Advance maintenance payments in plain language

Are you bringing up your child alone?

Then the other parent has to pay money for your child.

This money is also called maintenance.

But:

• The parent may not pay any money.
• Or the parent may only sometimes pay money.
• Or the parent may only pay a little money.

You can then receive advance maintenance payments.
The maintenance advance is money from the state.

So that the child is well off.

You can use the money to pay for important things for the child:

• Food
• Clothes
• Living
• School
• Leisure time
• Bag money

• Who gets money for maintenance?
• How much maintenance advance can you get?
• Does the maintenance advance have to be paid back?
• Where can you get help?
• Where do you submit your application?

You can receive an advance on maintenance payments:

• Your child is under 18 years of age.
• You are a single parent.
  This means:
  You are looking after your child alone.
  And your child lives with you.
• The other parent pays no maintenance for your child.
  Or the other parent does not pay regular maintenance for your child.
  Or the other parent pays too little child support for your child.

Your child is between 12 and 17 years old?
Then there are even more rules:

Your child gets no Citizen Money.

or

You get citizen money.

Then the following also applies:

You have at least 600 euros gross per month.

The money must be calculated without child benefit.

Your child is under 12 years old and receives citizen's allowance?

If so, the advance maintenance payment will be deducted from the Citizen's Allowance.
This means:
The child receives less Citizen's Income.

How much maintenance advance does your child receive?
This depends on the age of your child.

Do you also receive child benefit?
The child benefit is deducted from the maintenance advance.

You will then receive at most:

• 0 to 5 years: 227 euros
• 6 to 11 years: 299 euros
• 12 to 17 years: 394 euros

You will receive the advance maintenance payment
until the child is 18 years old.
The maintenance advance is paid every month.
The family always receives the money at the beginning of the month.

The other parent does not pay child support?

Then the state pays the money for the child.

Does the other parent have money later?

Then they must pay the money back to the state.

The state checks: Does the other parent have money?

The state asks about this.

For example:

- with the employer

- with the tax office

- with insurance companies

- with social security funds

Does the parent still not pay?

Then the state can take the money by force.

We will be happy to help you.

You can come to the Maintenance Advance Office.

You can also call

or write an e-mail.

You can search for the maintenance advance office in your city on the Internet.

The website is

https://www.familienportal.nrw/de/unterhaltsvorschuss-nrw

Type in your postal code or your place of residence.

You will then receive all the information.

The page is not in plain language.

In most cities, you can submit the application online.

The website is www.unterhaltsvorschuss-online.de.

The application is not in plain language.

Or you can submit an application to the youth welfare office in your city.

You must submit the application in writing.

We will be happy to help you.

Come in for a consultation.