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Unterhaltsvorschuss Calculator 2026

Calculate the state maintenance advance for your child.

01

€227

Up to age 5

02

€299

Ages 6–11

03

€394

Ages 12–17

What is the Unterhaltsvorschuss?

Unterhaltsvorschuss (advance maintenance) is a state benefit for children living with a single parent who receive no maintenance or insufficient maintenance from the other parent. The state advances the missing amount and subsequently recovers it from the liable parent.

The amount depends on the child's age: €227 (0–5 years), €299 (6–11 years) and €394 (12–17 years) per month (2026, §1 UhVorschG). Paid until the 18th birthday.

Calculate Unterhaltsvorschuss

Input
5 yrs
0 yrs17 yrs
0–5 yrs
227 €
6–11 yrs
299 €
12–17 yrs
394 €

Result

Fill in the inputs and click "Calculate".

FAQ — 09

Frequently asked questions about Unterhaltsvorschuss

Q.01How long is Unterhaltsvorschuss paid?
Unterhaltsvorschuss is paid until the child's 18th birthday. The former limit of 72 months (6 years) was abolished in 2017 (§1 UhVorschG). The Unterhaltsvorschuss ends when the child turns 18.
Q.02Who is entitled to Unterhaltsvorschuss?
Children who live with a single parent and receive no or insufficient maintenance from the other parent. The child must live in Germany and be under 18 years old.
Q.03What happens if the other parent pays maintenance?
If the other parent pays maintenance, this is offset against the Unterhaltsvorschuss. If the maintenance payer pays less than the Unterhaltsvorschuss amount, the child receives the difference as a state benefit.
Q.04Where is Unterhaltsvorschuss applied for?
Unterhaltsvorschuss is applied for at the Jugendamt of the city or municipality where the child has their main residence. The Jugendamt can enforce the child's maintenance claims against the other parent.
Q.05Is Kindergeld offset against Unterhaltsvorschuss?
Yes. The full Kindergeld of 259 € (2026) is offset against the minimum maintenance from the Düsseldorfer Tabelle (227 / 299 / 394 € shown on the calculator). The figures already include this offset — the child effectively receives the minimum maintenance minus 255 € as state advance.
Q.06What changes from age 12?
For the 12–17 age group the 2017 reform added an extra condition: either the single parent does not receive Bürgergeld, or has own income of at least 600 € net/month (combinable with Wohngeld and KiZ). For pure-Bürgergeld households the claim ceases.
Q.07What if the other parent lives abroad?
Unterhaltsvorschuss can still be drawn if the maintenance-paying parent lives abroad or is unknown (e.g. anonymous sperm donation). The Jugendamt pursues the claim cross-border via the EU Maintenance Regulation.
Q.08How does UVG interact with shared custody?
In a true shared custody arrangement (the child lives roughly equally with both parents and both share costs), the UVG claim usually ceases — the law presumes single parenting (§ 1 (1) UhVorschG). In a residence-model setup with regular weekend access the claim remains.
Q.09What if the liable parent pays back later?
Once maintenance arrives from the other parent, it is offset against the UVG. If the state has already advanced funds and the liable parent later pays, the Jugendamt keeps the recovered amount. The child continued to receive UVG — the state simply recovers from the defaulter.

— Explainer

What is Unterhaltsvorschuss and who is entitled in 2026?

Unterhaltsvorschuss (UVG) is a state advance for children living with a single parent who receives no or insufficient maintenance from the other parent. The Jugendamt pays the minimum maintenance from the Düsseldorfer Tabelle and then pursues the claim against the liable parent itself — effectively a state bridge for child maintenance. Legal basis: Unterhaltsvorschussgesetz (UhVorschG).

The 2017 reform delivered two key improvements: the previous 72-month maximum was abolished, and the age limit was raised from 12 to 18. Since then UVG is paid up to the child's 18th birthday without time limit.

For children aged 12–17 an additional condition applies: either the single parent does not receive Bürgergeld, or has own net income of at least 600 €/month (combinable with Wohngeld and KiZ). This threshold prevents UVG running in parallel to Bürgergeld.

2026 amounts: 227 € (0–5 yrs), 299 € (6–11 yrs), 394 € (12–17 yrs) — already net of the full Kindergeld offset. The actual Düsseldorfer Tabelle minimum maintenance in 2026 is 482 / 554 / 649 € — minus 255 € of Kindergeld (full offset for UVG).

— Calculation

The UVG amount is set by statute. It equals the Düsseldorfer Tabelle minimum maintenance minus the full Kindergeld. Parental income does not affect UVG entitlement — unlike Bürgergeld or KiZ.

Age 0–5

227 € / month

Minimum maintenance 482 € − 255 € Kindergeld

Age 6–11

299 € / month

Minimum maintenance 554 € − 255 € Kindergeld

Age 12–17

394 € / month

Minimum maintenance 649 € − 255 € Kindergeld

Maintenance offset

1:1 against UVG

If the other parent pays 150 €, UVG drops by 150 €

Half-orphan pension offset

1:1

Pension drawn from the deceased parent

Duration

Until 18th birthday

No 72-month cap since 2017

Age 12–17 condition

Own income ≥ 600 € or no Bürgergeld

Threshold against double-receipt

The UVG amount is not annually indexed; it follows the Düsseldorfer Tabelle minimum maintenance minus current Kindergeld. Each Kindergeld increase therefore reduces the net UVG payout.

— Edge cases

Father unknown or deceased

Entitlement still applies. If the other parent is deceased, UVG runs alongside the half-orphan pension — but the pension is offset against UVG. Anonymous sperm donation: also entitled.

§ 1 (1) UhVorschG

Shared vs. residence custody

In a true shared-custody model (the child lives equally with both parents), the claim ceases — single parenting is a precondition. In a residence-model setup with weekend access, the claim remains.

§ 1 (1) No. 2 UhVorschG

Liable parent in EU abroad

When the maintenance-paying parent lives in an EU country, UVG can still be claimed. The Jugendamt pursues maintenance cross-border under the EU Maintenance Regulation.

EU Maintenance Regulation

Cooperation duty of the single parent

UVG recipients must cooperate in paternity establishment and maintenance recovery — name and address of the other parent, assistance with service. Refusal can block UVG.

§ 1 (3) UhVorschG

Remarriage or registered partnership

Marriage or registered partnership with a new partner ends the UVG claim (single parenting falls away). A mere cohabitation without legal status leaves the claim intact.

§ 1 (1) No. 2 UhVorschG

Child moves abroad

The claim ceases when the child's habitual residence moves out of Germany. Short stays (school exchange up to 1 year) do not affect entitlement.

§ 1 UhVorschG

— How to apply for Unterhaltsvorschuss

Apply at the Jugendamt of the child's municipality. UVG is paid from the month of application — not retroactively — so file as early as possible.

  1. 01

    Find the responsible Jugendamt

    Jugendamt of the city or municipality where the child has its main residence. Address via familienportal.de or the municipal website.

  2. 02

    Gather documents

    Child's birth certificate, residence certificate of the single-parent household, divorce decree if applicable, proof of maintenance payments or their absence, contact details of the other parent (name, address, date of birth).

  3. 03

    Submit the UVG form

    Many Jugendamt offices accept online submission; otherwise paper form or in person. A counselling appointment is usually offered — also covering whether KiZ + Wohngeld make sense alongside.

  4. 04

    Cooperate in paternity proceedings

    If paternity is not legally established, the Jugendamt assists with judicial establishment via the Beistandschaft. Without this cooperation, UVG may be denied.

  5. 05

    Decision and payment

    Processing takes 4–8 weeks. Monthly payments. The decision specifies the exact payout (after any offsets).

  6. 06

    Report changes immediately

    Marriage, move, beginning of payments from the other parent, own income from the child's 12th birthday — all affect entitlement. Mandatory report within 2 weeks, otherwise clawback applies.

— Common mistakes

  • Filing the application too late

    UVG is paid only from the application month, not retroactively. Filing 3 months after separation costs 3 months × the tier amount — almost 1,000 € for a school child.

  • Refusing cooperation

    Failing to name the other parent or assist with paternity establishment risks rejection. Documented protection needs (violence, stalking) must be evidenced.

  • Not reporting maintenance payments

    Partial payments by the other parent must be reported to the Jugendamt at once. Concealing them risks clawback plus a fine.

  • Mislabelling shared custody

    In a true shared-custody arrangement there is no UVG entitlement. Misstating the status risks a fraud complaint.

  • Underestimating the age-12 threshold

    From the 12th birthday new requirements apply — own income ≥ 600 € or no Bürgergeld. The threshold is often noticed only at the renewal decision.

  • Failing to declare half-orphan pension

    A half-orphan pension from the deceased parent reduces UVG 1:1. Failing to declare it leads to clawback plus surcharges.

— Nächste Schritte

Finder

Jugendamt finden – Antrag Unterhaltsvorschuss →

Antrag beim Jugendamt der Gemeinde stellen, in der das Kind lebt

Info

Unterhaltsvorschuss – BMFSFJ Informationen →

Offizielle Informationen des Bundesfamilienministeriums (Beträge, Anspruch, Verfahren)

Info

Beistandschaft beantragen (Unterhaltsansprüche durchsetzen) →

Das Jugendamt kann kostenlos Unterhaltsansprüche des Kindes geltend machen

— Sources & legal basis

Note: This calculation is a non-binding estimate. For binding information, please contact your local Jugendamt (Youth Welfare Office).

As of: January 2026

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— Editorial

Elena Maurer

Elena Maurer

Editor-in-Chief

Elena leads the editorial team at familienleistungen-rechner.de. She researches and updates the calculators and guides based on official legislation and federal authorities. Her goal: making complex social benefits understandable and accessible for families.

Fact-checked by:Redaktion Faktencheck — Source Verification & Editorial Quality Assurance

Last reviewed:15 January 2026

Researched and editorially reviewed. Not legal advice within the meaning of § 2 RDG.

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