Can I as a single parent get financial support?
June 20, 2024 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Andreas Köhler
Dear Social Law Attorney,
My name is Sophia Krause and I am a single parent. Since separating from my partner a year ago, I have been faced with the challenge of providing for my two children on my own. I work part-time in order to be able to take care of my children, but it is not enough to cover all expenses. I am worried about my financial situation and wondering if I can receive financial support as a single parent.
Currently, I receive child benefit and my parental leave benefits will also continue until next month. But after that, I do not know how I will be able to afford the monthly expenses for rent, food, clothing, school supplies, and medical costs. I have tried to work more, but due to caring for my children, it is not possible.
I would like to know if there are specific support options available for single parents that could help improve my financial situation. For example, is there maintenance advance, housing allowance, or other benefits that I may be eligible for? What are the requirements to receive these benefits? How can I apply and what documents do I need to submit?
I hope that you can assist me with these questions and provide possible solutions to improve my financial situation as a single parent.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Sophia Krause
Dear Mrs. Krause,
Thank you for your message and your trust in my expertise as a lawyer specializing in social law. I understand your situation as a single mother and can empathize with the challenges of taking care of your children while also bearing the financial burden. I would be happy to assist you with your questions and provide you with information on possible support options.
As a single parent, you are indeed entitled to certain financial support that can help improve your financial situation. One of these support options is child maintenance advance payment. Child maintenance advance payment is a state benefit available to single parents whose children do not receive any or insufficient maintenance from the other parent. To apply for child maintenance advance payment, you must meet certain requirements, such as the child being under 18 years old and not receiving any or only partial maintenance from the other parent. You must also demonstrate that you have made efforts to obtain child maintenance. To apply for child maintenance advance payment, you can contact your local youth welfare office.
Another possible support option is housing benefit. Housing benefit is a financial support aimed at covering housing costs and can help single parents like yourself to cover rental expenses. The eligibility criteria for receiving housing benefit vary depending on the federal state, but generally housing benefit is calculated based on income. You can apply for housing benefit at your local housing benefit office and will need to submit various documents such as income statements, rental agreement, and bank statements.
In addition to child maintenance advance payment and housing benefit, there are other benefits that you as a single parent may be eligible for, such as the education and participation package for school supplies and leisure activities, or the child supplement. I recommend that you thoroughly explore the various support options and consider scheduling an appointment with a social counseling center or a lawyer specializing in social law in your area for personalized advice.
I hope this information is helpful to you and has brought potential solutions to your attention. If you have any further questions or need assistance with the application process, please feel free to contact me.
Best regards,
Andreas Köhler
Lawyer specializing in social law
