You are eligible to receive advance child support for your child if you are raising the child in your household without the other parent, from whom the child is entitled to child support. However, this child support is not being paid, or is being paid only partially or irregularly, by the other parent or the person obligated to pay child support.

The child’s primary residence must clearly be in your household. 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 limit on the duration of benefits (previously a maximum of 72 months) has been lifted.

The amount of the advance child support payment is based on the minimum child support amount.

If the single parent is entitled to full child benefit, the advance child support payment in Lower Saxony has been as follows since January 1, 2025:

• 227.00 euros per month for children up to 5 years of age
• for children aged 6 to 11, 299.00 euros per month
• for children aged 12 to 17: 394.00 euros per month

After your child turns 12, they are only entitled to child support if one of the following conditions is met:

• Neither you nor your child receives a basic income benefit.
• The advance child support payment can prevent your child from becoming in need of assistance.
• You have a gross monthly income of at least 600 euros and receive supplemental basic income.

This ensures that, if necessary, all children receive advance child support without interruption. At the same time, it creates an important incentive for households that are not in need of assistance—or that could become independent of basic social security benefits through their own earned income—to secure their own livelihood.

The advance child support payment is always paid at the beginning of a calendar month and can be applied for retroactively for one month.