Financial support for employees with child(ren)
Among other things, employment contributes to the financial security of the family. Financial support services can help to ensure that work and family life can be reconciled as well as possible.
Benefits in accordance with SGB II
(currently still referred to as "citizen's allowance") secure the livelihood of persons capable of work and in need of assistance (between the ages of 15 and retirement age) and their benefit community. They include standard needs, costs for accommodation/heating, additional needs (e.g. pregnancy) and benefits for integration into employment.
Entitlement to benefits under SGB II does not necessarily require unemployment. If the amount of income is not sufficient to ensure the family's livelihood (measured against the specified requirement rates), there may be an entitlement to supplementary (top-up) benefits.
Furthermore, one-off benefits are paid on the basis of SGB II in certain situations (e.g. during pregnancy, for the initial furnishing of an apartment, etc.). This does not require an entitlement to regular SGB II benefits.
The local job center determines whether an entitlement exists. The application can be made online .
The citizen's allowance under SGB II will be replaced on 1.7.2026 by the new basic income support for the unemployed
replaced.
Housing benefit is a subsidy towards housing costs, half of which is paid by the federal government and half by the federal states. It can be paid both for rented accommodation and for owner-occupied residential property. The decisive factors are the number of family members in the household, the total income and the amount of rent or charges.
Housing benefit is intended to help low-income households that do not receive transfer payments such as citizen's allowance with their housing costs.
Housing benefit is only granted on application. In order to receive housing benefit, an application must be submitted to the relevant housing benefit authority. These belong to the municipal, city or district administrations. Many federal states already offer the application online. It makes sense to check in advance with the help of the housing benefit calculator whether you could be entitled to housing benefit.
Click here for further useful information from the federal government.
Click here to go to the Siegen housing benefit office.
Maternity benefit is a wage/salary replacement benefit during the statutory maternity protection periods. The entitlement depends on the type of employment relationship and the type of health insurance. Women in existing employment are financially covered by maternity benefit and the employer's allowance for interruptions to work during the maternity protection period.
Employees with statutory health insurance
Employees with statutory health insurance receive an income-related maternity allowance of up to 13 euros per calendar day from their health insurance fund during the protection periods. The employer pays the difference to the previous average net pay of the last three months before the birth. The application for maternity benefit is submitted to the health insurance fund, usually 7 weeks before the date of delivery.
Privately insured employees
Privately insured employees receive maternity benefit from the Federal Social Security Office, up to a maximum total of 210 euros for the entire protection period. If the average calendar day's net pay exceeds 13 euros, the employer also pays the difference as a subsidy. The application for maternity benefit must be submitted to the Federal Social Security Office, usually 7 weeks before the date of delivery.
Student and academic assistants with a Bachelor's degree (SHK and WHB)
Assistants who work on a part-time basis at the University of Siegen, have statutory health insurance and are not entitled to sick pay also receive maternity benefit of up to 13 euros per calendar day from their health insurance fund (application to the health insurance fund required). The employer also pays the possible difference to the previous average net salary of the last three months before the birth.
Auxiliary staff who work on a marginal basis at the University of Siegen and are covered by family insurance receive maternity benefit from the Federal Social Security Office, up to a maximum of 210 euros (application to the Federal Social Security Office required). The possible difference to the previous average net salary of the last three months before the birth is again paid by the employer.
Parental allowance is state financial support for parents of infants and young children up to 14 months of age. Parental allowance partially compensates for financial needs when parents temporarily work less or not at all after the birth due to childcare.
Mothers and fathers areentitled to parental allowance if
- they look after their child themselves
- they live with their child in the same household
- they live in Germany
- they either do not work at all or work a maximum of 32 hours per week
The amount of parental allowance is based on the loss of income. The assessment basis is the average net income from the last twelve months before the birth. The minimum amount is €300, even without previous income. The "parental allowance calculator" can be used to reliably determine the amount in individual cases.
Parental allowance can be claimed from the moment the child is born. It is calculated and paid out in months of life, not in calendar months. The period of entitlement depends on the type of parental allowance chosen.
The application for parental allowance is submitted to the responsible parental allowance office in your place of residence. In NRW, it is possible to submit the application digitally.
submit the application digitally. The application for parental allowance can only be submitted after the birth. It is recommended to submit the application as soon as possible after the birth and within the first three months of life at the latest, as parental allowance is granted retroactively for these three months at the most.
While receiving parental allowance, you can work part-time for a maximum of 32 hours per week.
While receiving parental allowance, the type of health insurance remains the same as before. In some cases, there may be changes to the contributions.
Parental allowance must be declared in the tax return .
Advice on parental allowance and parental leave is available from the regional parental allowance offices
at
Maternity benefit
Maternity benefit is a wage/salary replacement benefit during the statutory maternity protection periods. The entitlement depends on the type of employment relationship and the type of health insurance.
Women in existing employment who are covered by statutory health insurance receive income-related maternity pay of up to 13 euros per calendar day from their health insurance fund during the protection period. The employer pays the difference to the previous average net pay of the last three months before the birth. The maternity allowance is fully offset against the parental allowance.
Privately insured employees receive maternity benefit from the Federal Insurance Office, up to a maximum of 210 euros. This money paid out by the Federal Insurance Office is not offset against the parental allowance, as it is not a wage replacement benefit.
In these cases, the employer also pays an allowance amounting to the difference between 13 euros and the average net pay.
SHKs who work for the University of Siegen on a part-time basis, have statutory health insurance and are not entitled to sick pay also receive maternity benefit of up to 13 euros per calendar day from their health insurance fund. The employer also pays the possible difference to the previous average net salary of the last three months before the birth.
SHKs who work on a marginal basis at the University of Siegen and are covered by family insurance receive maternity benefit from the Federal Insurance Office, up to a maximum of 210 euros. The possible difference to the previous average net pay of the last three months before the birth is again paid by the employer.
The application for maternity benefit must be submitted to the health insurance fund, at the earliest 7 weeks before the date of delivery (certificate from the gynaecologist required).
Employees with private or family insurance submit their application to the Federal Social Security Office.
Further interesting and important aspects (e.g. calculation and conditions, or what happens if the employment relationship ends during the maternity protection period, etc.) regarding maternity benefit can be found in the "Guide to maternity protection" from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
Maternity benefit office of the Federal Social Security Office
Parental allowance
Parental allowance is a state benefit for parents who temporarily work less or not at all after the birth of their child due to childcare and therefore have a loss of income.
Mothers and fathers are entitled to parental allowance if:
- they look after their child themselves
- they live with their child in the same household
- they live in Germany
- they either do not work at all or work a maximum of 30 hours/week
Mothers and fathers can apply for parental allowance for
- their biological child
- the child of the spouse
- the child of their partner
- your adopted child
- Parent couples
- Single parents
- Separated parents
- Nationals of EU, EEA and Swiss member states are entitled to parental allowance
- for all other nationals, entitlement depends on residence status
The amount of parental allowance is based on the loss of income. The basis of assessment is the average net income from the last twelve months before the birth.
As basic parental allowance, you usually receive 65%-67% of the net income that you had before the birth and which ceases after the birth. If you receive income during the period in which you receive parental allowance, the basic parental allowance is 65%-67% of the difference between your net income before the birth and your net income after the birth.
Basic parental allowance is a minimum of €300 and a maximum of €1800.
Parental All owancePlus is calculated in the same way as Basic Parental Allowance. However, as Parental Allowance Plus can be received for twice as long, the amount is limited to half of what would theoretically be received as basic parental allowance if no income was earned after the birth.
Low earners with a monthly income of less than €1000 before the birth of the child receive parental allowance of up to 100% of their net income.
There is a supplement for multiple births, which increases for each additional child. The supplement also increases the minimum and maximum amount of parental allowance.
Families with additional children in the same household may receive a sibling bonus.
Further details (such as earnings limits in relation to the amount or conditions for the sibling bonus, etc.) can be found in the brochure "Elterngeld, ElterngeldPlus und Elternzeit"
published by the BMFSFJ, which is very comprehensive and easy to understand.
With the "parental allowance calculator"
of the BMFSFJ can be used to reliably determine the amount in individual cases.
Parental allowance can be drawn from the moment the child is born. It is calculated and paid in months of life, not in calendar months.
The period of entitlement depends on the chosen variation. A new variation can be selected for each month of the child's life, so the type of benefit can be adapted to the respective circumstances and is not fixed from start to finish.
- Basic parentalallowance:
Basic parental allowance can be drawn for a maximum of 14 months (12 months + 2 partner months) until the child is 14 months old, provided that both parents apply for basic parental allowance and one of them has less income after the birth of the child than before. Otherwise, basic parental allowance is paid for a maximum of 12 months. However, from the 13th month of life, one parent can only receive Basic Parental Allowance if the other parent does not receive either Parental Allowance or Parental Allowance Plus during the same period. Basic Parental Allowance must be applied for for at least 2 months.
If both parents receive Basic Parental Allowance, they can divide the 14 months between them as they wish. However, both parents can only receive Basic Parental Allowance at the same time for a maximum of 1 month and only within the first 12 months of the child's life. Exceptions to this are parents whose child is born at least six weeks before the expected date of birth, who are expecting twins, triplets or multiples or whose child is born with a disability or has siblings with disabilities for whom the parents receive the sibling bonus: These pairs of parents may receive Basic Parental Allowance for more than one month at the same time as their partner. As soon as one of the parents receives Parental Allowance Plus, the other parent can also receive Basic Parental Allowance or Parental Allowance Plus for more than one month at a time.
Basic Parental Allowance can be drawn in one go, but can also be interrupted and continued later. Under certain conditions, single parents can also receive the partner months alone and thus receive 14 months of basic parental allowance. Further information can be found at the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. - Parental Allowance Plus:
Parental Allowance Plus can be received for twice as long as Basic Parental Allowance, as 1 month of Basic Parental Allowance is equivalent to 2 months of Parental Allowance Plus. This also applies to the amount.
Parental Allowance Plus may be worthwhile if you work part-time after the birth. In some cases, the monthly Parental Allowance Plus can then be just as high as the Basic Parental Allowance.
Parental Allowance Plus cannot be drawn during the period when maternity benefits are paid.
Parental allowance cannot be interrupted after the 14th month of life. - Partnership bonus:
With the partnership bonus, both parents can each receive 4 additional months of Parental Allowance Plus, provided that both work part-time with a weekly working time of between 25 and 30 hours during this time.
Single parents can also receive the partnership bonus under certain conditions.
However, as maternity benefit is calculated on a daily basis and maternity benefit is calculated in weeks, unlike parental allowance, there is often a supplementary entitlement to parental allowance in the last month of life in which maternity benefit is received. The application for parental allowance should therefore be made from the first month of life.
The application for parental allowance is submitted to the parental allowance office of the Siegen-Wittgenstein district or the responsible parental allowance office in your place of residence. On the "Family Portal" of the BMFSFJ
you can search for the responsible parental allowance office.
Each parent can only submit one application per child, even in the case of multiple births.
The application form is available in paper form from many different places (parental allowance office, health insurance companies, local authorities, hospitals, etc.) or online on the BMFSF's "Family Portal".
The application should be submitted in good time, as parental allowance is paid retroactively for a maximum of 3 months of life.
A checklist for applying for parental allowance can be found in the brochure "Elterngeld, ElterngeldPlus und Elternzeit"
published by the BMFSFJ.
The application can be changed retrospectively for each future month of life. Retroactive changes for previous months of life are usually only possible in cases of hardship.
The parental allowance office must be informed immediately of any changes to information relevant to the receipt of parental allowance after the application has been submitted.
While receiving parental allowance, you can work part-time for a maximum of 30 hours per week. The income earned from part-time employment affects the amount of parental allowance. It is advisable to work part-time during parental leave
part-time during parental leave and combine this with parental allowance.
The Parental Allowance Plus and Partnership Bonus variations or a combination of different variations can be advantageous for part-time employment.
The type of health insurance remains the same while you are receiving parental allowance. In some cases, there may be changes to the contributions. The respective health insurance company will advise you on this.
Parental allowance is tax-free, but is subject to progression. It therefore counts as income when calculating the tax rate. Parental allowance must be declared in the tax return.
Further interesting and important aspects (e.g. the calculation of parental allowance, a checklist for applying for parental allowance, or how other social benefits are offset against parental allowance, etc.) on parental allowance can be found in the brochure "Parental Allowance, Parental Allowance Plus and Parental Leave - The Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act" from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.
can be found. This brochure is usually also available in printed form from the Family Service Office.
Advice on parental allowance and parental leave is offered by the regional parental allowance office of the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein
is offered.
Information and explanatory videos from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
Law on Parental Allowance and Parental Leave (BEEG)
Child benefit and child supplement
Child benefit is a state financial support and serves to support the family and ensure the child's minimum subsistence level.
- Requirements
Parents or legal guardians are entitled to child benefit if the child lives in the family household and the family is resident in Germany. - Duration of entitlement/age limits
Entitlement to child benefit begins in the month of birth and continues without restriction until the child's 18th birthday. Child benefit is paid up to the age of 25, depending on the child's income. If the child is in initial education (e.g. studying), their income is not offset against the child benefit. - Application
Since 01.03.2021, child benefit processing has been transferred from the LBV NRW to the Family Benefits Office of the Federal Employment Agency. The application must therefore be submitted to the Family Benefits Office.
This can be done online or by post. Further information can be found on the homepage of the Family Benefits Office
of the Federal Employment Agency.
The parents or legal guardians are entitled to apply, not the child itself.
The child supplement is granted to parents who can basically cover their own needs, but not those of the child.
- Requirements
Parents are entitled to child supplement for their unmarried children under the age of 25 who live in their household if - child benefit is received for these children,
- the parents' monthly income reaches the minimum income threshold,
- the income and assets to be taken into account do not exceed the maximum income limit,
-
the family's needs are covered by payment of the child supplement and there is therefore no entitlement to ALG II/social benefit
- Application
The child supplement is a social benefit and is paid exclusively by the Family Benefits Office of the Employment Agency. The corresponding application must therefore be submitted here.
Child benefit application Family Benefits Office Federal Employment Agency
Child benefit information sheet Family Benefits Office Federal Employment Agency
Leaflet child supplement Family Benefits Office Federal Employment Agency
Application for child allowance Family Benefits Office Federal Employment Agency
Advance on maintenance
The Youth Welfare Office pays advance maintenance payments for children of single parents if the other parent does not pay any or too little maintenance. The office makes advance payments and reclaims the money if the parent is able to pay.
Children of single parents receive advance maintenance payments if
- the residence is in Germany
- the single parent is raising the child alone and clearly bears the main responsibility for raising the child
- the other parent pays the child no maintenance at all, only irregular maintenance or only maintenance that is less than the maintenance advance
Additional conditions apply for children between the ages of 12 and 17:
- if the child is not dependent on SGB II benefits
- if the child would not be dependent on SGB II benefits with the maintenance advance
- if the single parent receives unemployment benefit II and also earns a gross income of at least 600 euros per month
Education and participation
The education and participation package supports children from low-income families with education and social participation, e.g. for school supplies, excursions, learning support, lunch and leisure activities.
Children and young people who receive unemployment benefit II, social benefit or social assistance or whose parents receive child supplement or housing benefit are generally entitled to education and participation benefits.
There may also be an entitlement to benefits from the education and participation package in accordance with SGB II if the child or their parents do not otherwise receive any of the aforementioned social benefits but are unable to cover the child's specific education and participation needs.
Recipients of unemployment benefit II or social benefit (SGB II) can submit their applications at the contact points of the Jobcenter for the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein.
Recipients of housing benefit, child supplement, assistance with living expenses or basic income support in the event of reduced earning capacity (SGB XII) are advised in the town halls, receive the necessary applications there and can also submit their applications there. Further processing of the applications takes place at the district administration.
Special simplified regulations apply for children who take part in lunchtime meals in daycare centers and schools. These applications are available at the daycare center and school and can also be handed in there.
Responsible for the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein
Application for benefits for education and participation
Information from the employment agency
Information from the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
"Das Bildungspaket - Mitmachen möglich machen" of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
Travel allowance
As a family-friendly university, the University of Siegen supports the transportation of children and, if necessary, an accompanying person if they cannot be cared for at home. In particular, employees in science (except W2 and W3 professorships), in technology and administration as well as SHKs and WHBs of the University of Siegen with child(ren) (under 12 years of age) can be granted a pro rata travel allowance for family transportation upon application. Scholarship holders of the University of Siegen can also apply for a subsidy, provided that the regulations of the scholarship program are compatible with this.
The entire application process takes place via the Family Service Office. When making use of this support, the implementation regulations must be observed. The grant is limited. It is also paid retroactively after the trip has taken place, provided that the application to be submitted in advance has been approved.
You can find everything else in the information and implementation regulations. You will also need the application form and any other supporting documents.
If additional childcare costs are incurred, it is possible to receive a grant from the University of Siegen's childcare fund.
can be obtained.
The Family Service Office can also find qualified caregivers.
Necessary documents
- Information and implementation regulations "Subsidization of travel costs for the necessary transportation of child(ren) and an accompanying person on business trips"
- Application form "Subsidization of travel expenses for the necessary transportation of child(ren) and an accompanying person on business trips"