Single parent: Financial benefits & support services

Family models have changed and the traditional image of father, mother and child no longer represents the norm. Today, around one in five families with children consists of a single parent. In most cases, this means that these single parents have to manage the household and child rearing largely on their own and bear full responsibility for the children. Many single parents reach their limits, particularly financially, as they are often only able to work part-time. To support single parents, the state offers some financial assistance that can be applied for.

Financial relief for single parents:

Single parents are entitled to the same financial support as parents in partnerships, including unemployment benefit II, housing benefit and social assistance. In addition, there are special assistance programs designed exclusively for single parents that can be applied for from the state.

Note: In the event of a separation with children, the youth welfare office is the first point of contact. It offers support with maintenance payments, custody and paternity acknowledgement. Single parents are informed about possible support services. It is worth noting that maintenance claims can only be asserted retroactively to a limited extent, so it is advisable to make an appointment with the youth welfare office as soon as possible

Parental allowance for single parents: Parental allowance was developed to compensate for the loss of income during the care and upbringing of the child and to stabilise the economic situation of the parents. Couples are jointly entitled to a total of 14 months basic parental allowance, provided that both parents are involved in childcare and lose income in the process. If single parents with sole custody fulfil the requirements, they can claim the full 14 months of parental allowance for themselves alone to compensate for the loss of income.

Kinderzuschlag für geringverdienende Alleinerziehende: Child supplement for low-income single parents: In addition to the regular child benefit, low-earning single parents can also apply for a child supplement from the relevant family benefits office of the Federal Employment Agency. The amount of this supplement depends on the disposable income and is a maximum of 250 euros per month and child. As a rule, you receive the child supplement for 6 months. If the authorisation period has expired, you must reapply for the child supplement.

Child maintenance from the former partner: After separation, the child can demand maintenance from the parent with whom it does not live in the same household. The parent with whom the child lives and resides fulfils their maintenance obligation by looking after, caring for and feeding the child. Care and cash maintenance are considered equivalent. The prerequisite is that the party obliged to pay maintenance is able to pay. The amount of maintenance can be determined using the Düsseldorf table.

Spousal maintenance: Claims for post-marital maintenance can only be considered if the spouse is unable to support him/herself after the divorce. However, the mother is protected by law in a special way: The father must provide maintenance to the mother from six weeks before to eight weeks after the birth of the child. He is obliged to pay maintenance beyond this period if the mother cannot be expected to work due to the care and upbringing of the child. The maintenance obligation exists for at least three years after the birth.

Advance maintenance payments from the youth welfare office: It often happens that the separated partner is unable or unwilling to pay child maintenance on a regular basis. In such cases, single parents have the option of submitting a written application for an advance on maintenance payments to the relevant youth welfare office.

Relief amount: Single parents are entitled to a special tax allowance that reduces the annual tax burden. The prerequisite is that the taxpayer is single and their household has at least 1 child for whom they are entitled to a child allowance or child benefit. From 2023, single parents will receive a relief amount of €4,260 for the first child. For each additional child, the relief amount will increase by €240.

Tax bracket: Single parents are categorised in tax bracket 2. This lowers the tax class compared to tax class 1. Tax class 2 must be applied for. The prerequisite is that you are single and the household has at least one child who receives the child allowance or child benefit. The advantage of tax class II: there is the so-called relief amount.

Reduced costs for childcare: Under certain conditions, the costs for the crèche, daycare centre, kindergarten, after-school care or a childminder can be partially covered by the relevant youth welfare office.

Initial equipment for the baby: Single parents with a low income or recipients of unemployment benefit II or social benefit can apply for initial baby equipment at the local job centre or social welfare office. As this is an earmarked one-off grant, it is not offset against other social benefits such as unemployment benefit II or social benefit. The amount of the subsidy varies depending on the individual situation, the items required and the respective federal state.

Benefits for education and participation: Single parents who receive unemployment benefit II, child supplement, social benefit, housing benefit or social assistance can apply for benefits for education and participation. These benefits provide financial support to enable children to take part in school and extracurricular activities. The aim is to enable children to better develop as individuals and participate in social life.

Other benefits, regardless of whether you are a single parent or not:

Maternity benefit: Working mothers are entitled to maternity benefit during the protection periods before and after the birth date, which is paid by the statutory health insurance funds. The period is six weeks before and eight weeks after the birth. The amount of maternity benefit is calculated on the basis of the average net income of the last three full calendar months.

Child benefit: Currently (since 1 January 2023), child benefit is a flat rate of 250 euros per month for each child. Although the entitlement to child benefit is automatic, a written application must be submitted to the relevant family benefits office.

Tax return: In the tax return, two thirds of the expenses incurred for the crèche, kindergarten and daycare centre can be taken into account and deducted as special expenses. If your child attends a public school, up to 30 per cent of the annual school fees can be claimed as special expenses for tax purposes.

Further support services:

Child sick days: Single parents are entitled to more child sick days: Parents with statutory health insurance can still apply for child sick pay for 30 working days (single parents for 60 working days) per child with statutory health insurance until the end of 2023. If there are several children, each parent is entitled to no more than 65 working days and single parents to no more than 130 working days. Thereafter, for the years 2024 and 2025, the entitlement to child sickness benefit will be for a maximum of 15 working days in each case, for single parents for 30 days.

Mother-child cure or father-child cure: single parents take on an enormous multiple burden – this can also have health consequences. A cure helps to maintain your own health. The mother-child cure or father-child cure is a compulsory medical benefit provided by the statutory health insurance funds, which must be applied for and can be taken for a total of three weeks. The first point of contact is the family doctor, who certifies the cure on the grounds of medical necessity. The cure is applied for directly with the statutory health insurance company.