Balancing your studies and your family can be quite a challenge. We advise you on all aspects - from economic and logistical questions to daycare places and support in crisis situations.
Feel free to contact us with your questions, especially about social benefits, health insurance, working alongside your studies, changes in your study status and the effects on your student finance, communication with authorities, health insurance, landlord.
We will advise you in a confidential setting either in person at the Counselling Centre in Grindelallee, or by telephone, video call or email.
Your way to us:
Contact information and availability times can be found on the right. Information about our counselling service at TU Hamburg and at HAW Hamburg can be found here.
Use our open office hours or book an appointment.
Contact us by email: studierenmitkind@stwhh.de
BAföG contains a number of special regulations for pregnant students, which are summarized in the Infoblatt zur Förderung nach dem BAföG in den Fällen von Schwangerschaft und Kindererziehung. Please note that BAföG cannot usually be claimed by students with a residence permit according to § 16b of the Residence Act. You can get advice from the BAföG office responsible for your place of study.
After the twelfth week of pregnancy, pregnant women in need are entitled to additional needs allowance (according § 21 (2) SGB II). This is intended to cover additional costs for additional nutrition, personal hygiene, additional fare and minor changes in clothing. Not included are costs for pregnancy clothing, as these must be applied for separately (see next point). A person is considered to be in financial need if their income falls below, or only slightly exceeds, the level of basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld) entitlement (standard allowance plus appropriate rent and heating costs). The amount of the additional need depends on income and is € 95.71 for single pregnant women or € 86.02 for pregnant women with a partner.
As a rule, students with a residence permit according to § 16b Residence Act cannot apply for this benefit! Applications must be submitted to the Jobcenter responsible for the place of residence.
You can also get advice at Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs – Counselling for Students with a child.
Pregnant women (including those in training or studying) can apply for benefits in accordance with § 24 (3) SGB II for maternity clothing, hospital and breastfeeding supplies, initial baby equipment including furniture (e.g. changing unit, crib) and, if applicable, household appliances that are necessary due to the children (e.g. washing machine). A person is considered to be in financial need if their income falls below, or only slightly exceeds, the level of basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld) entitlement (standard allowance plus appropriate rent and heating costs).
As a rule, students with a residence permit according to § 16b Residence Act cannot apply for this benefit! Applications must be submitted to the Jobcenter responsible for the place of residence.
You can also get advice at Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs – Counselling for Students with a child.
The funds of the Federal Foundation mother and child (Bundesstiftung Mutter und Kind) are used to provide unbureaucratic assistance to pregnant women in emergency situations and to make it easier for them to continue their pregnancy. In particular, the foundation can provide financial assistance for the child's initial equipment, maternity clothing, costs for moving into a first independent home, and certain midwifery services. The amount and duration of support depend on the circumstances of the personal emergency. The money is not offset against other benefits (e.g. under SGB II) and international students with a residence permit for the purpose of studying in accordance with § 16b of the Residence Act can also claim it without any consequences under immigration law. Counselling and applications can be made at various institutions: In Hamburg at the Diakonisches Werk as well the Sozialdienst katholischer Frauen Hamburg e.V. Pregnant women who live in another federal state can find the counselling centre responsible for them on the website of the Federal Foundation.
Maternity benefit (Mutterschaftsgeld) is an income replacement benefit paid during the statutory maternity protection period, which begins six weeks before childbirth and continues for eight weeks after childbirth (or twelve weeks after childbirth in cases of premature births or multiple births).
Eligibility for maternity benefit is conditional on paid employment and membership of a statutory health insurance scheme. For those who are self-employed or privately insured, entitlement to maternity benefit depends on the respective health insurance provider and the contractual arrangements in place.
Upon submission of a medical certificate, statutory health insurance funds pay maternity benefit of up to € 13 per calendar day. Where applicable, the employer may provide an additional payment to top up this amount.
If you are covered under family health insurance, you may receive a one-off payment of € 210 from the Federal Office for Social Security (Bundesamt für Soziale Sicherung), provided that you submit an application in advance.
Further detailed information can be found on the Family Portal (Familienportal) and in the brochure „Leitfaden zum Mutterschutz“ by the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.
You can also get advice at Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs – Counselling for Students with a child.
The mother of a child born out of wedlock is entitled to maintenance from the father of the child. The so-called care maintenance refers to six weeks before and eight weeks after birth. If no gainful employment can be pursued due to the care and upbringing of a child, the duration can extend from four months before to three years after the birth of the child. The three years after birth may also apply to the father of the child in the opposite case.
When calculating maintenance, other maintenance obligations (e.g. other minor children, etc.) may have priority. In addition, a deductible applies, so that, depending on income, no maintenance may have to be paid or may be claimed from the mother's/father's point of view. The departments for assistance of the Youth Welfare Offices, the Public Legal Information and Settlement Office Hamburg (ÖRA) as well as lawyers and notaries advise on maintenance claims for mother and child.
Parental allowance (Elterngeld) is an income replacement benefit to which all parents (including students) whose place of residence or habitual residence is in Germany are entitled. The prerequisite is that they live in a household with their child and care for and raise it themselves, and that they are not in gainful employment (up to 32 hours per week). The number of hours per week spent on the studies is irrelevant.
In the case of gainful employment (e.g. mini-job), parental allowance can also be applied for and claimed by students with a residence permit according to § 16b Residence Act!
Detailed information is available in the Family Guide and the brochure “Elterngeld und Elternzeit – Das Bundeselterngeld- und Elternzeitgesetz“ (Parental allowance and parental leave – The Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act). Get advice and submit applications at the parental allowance office responsible for your place of residence. You can find the parental allowance offices in Hamburg here. You can also get advice at Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs – Counselling for Students with a child.
“BAföG” contains a number of special regulations for student parents, which are summarized here.
As a rule, “BAföG” cannot be claimed by students with a residence permit according to § 16b Residence Act!
You can get advice at the BAföG Office responsible for your place of study.
Housing benefit (Wohngeld) according to the Housing Benefit Act (WoGG) is paid as a rent subsidy for accommodation occupied by the applicant (in the case of house/flat owners as an encumbrance subsidy). Find more detailed information on this in the section Study Financing in special life situations of our website. You can also get advice at Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs – Counselling for Students with a child.
Parents or single parents whose own income is sufficient for their personal needs, but not for the entire needs of the family, can receive supplementary child allowance (Kinderzuschlag). It serves to avoid a need for assistance in the sense of Book II of the Social Code (SGB II). Benefits according to SGB II and the supplementary child allowance (Kinderzuschlag) are therefore mutually exclusive. The maximum supplementary child allowance (Kinderzuschlag) is € 297 per month for each minor child living in the same household.
To receive supplementary child allowance (Kinderzuschlag), the parents' income and assets must not exceed a maximum limit and must simultaneously reach a minimum limit. The minimum limit of gross income is € 600 for single parents and € 900 for parent couples. Housing benefit (Wohngeld) and child benefit (Kindergeld) are not counted as income. The asset allowances are based on the regulations of basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld). The maximum income limit consists of the parental need as defined by basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld) and the share of the parents' appropriate housing costs as well as the total supplementary child allowance. If the income exceeds or falls below these limits, there is no entitlement to supplementary child allowance.
The child's income (e.g. alimony, half-orphan's pension) is considered when calculating the supplementary child allowance (Kinderzuschlag). It is deducted from the highest possible supplementary child allowance amount. If the child's income exceeds € 250, no supplementary child allowance (Kinderzuschlag) will be granted, regardless of the parents' income calculation.
Supplementary child allowance (Kinderzuschlag) cannot be claimed by students with a residence permit according to § 16b Residence Act!
You can find detailed information about the supplementary child allowance (Kinderzuschlag) here. Get advice and submit applications at the family benefits office of the Federal Employment Agency responsible for your place of residence. You can also get advice at Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs – Counselling for Students with a child.
Students who are pursuing an education that is eligible for “BAföG” are generally excluded from receiving basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld). The exclusion of benefits applies regardless of whether students actually receive “BAföG”. If the “BAföG”-eligible education is interrupted, e.g. due to a leave of absence or part-time studies, a claim to basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld) is possible, if students can demonstrate financial need and all other eligibility requirements are met. These include, among others, work capability and actively seeking employment. This also applies to people who care for a child older than 14 months.
Basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld) consists of benefits to ensure subsistence (the so-called standard rate of a maximum of € 563 for single people or € 506 for people living in a partnership), the costs of accommodation and heating as well as coverage of contributions to health and long-term care insurance and, if necessary, additional needs (e.g. additional needs for expectant mothers, additional needs for single parents).
Basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld) is a subordinate benefit. This means that it only comes into play if the necessary needs cannot be covered by self-help, by relatives with a legal maintenance obligation or by other social benefits that must be applied for with priority (e.g. housing benefit, supplementary child allowance). Pregnant and single-parent students, on the other hand, may not be referred to maintenance claims against their parents.
In cases of special hardship, students can apply for basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld) in the form of a loan. A special hardship exists, for example, if the studies are close to completion, the student’s funding was previously secured and has lapsed through no fault of their own. This can be the case, for example, with single-parent students and students with illnesses or disabilities who are unable to work, etc.
These benefits cannot be claimed by students with a residence permit according to § 16 Residence Act!
The application must be submitted to the Jobcenter responsible for the place of residence. You can also get advice at Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs – Counselling for Students with a child.
The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth has put together the following Info Tool for families with lots of information.
Single parents in financial need can claim an additional need (Mehrbedarf) in the amount of € 202.68 if they live with one child under seven years of age or with two or three children under 16 years of age (or in the amount of € 67.56 with one child over seven years of age) and are solely responsible for their care and upbringing (§ 21 (3) SGB II). A person is in need if his or her income falls below or slightly exceeds the SGB II requirement (standard rate plus appropriate warm rent).
As a rule, the additional requirement cannot be claimed by students with a residence permit according to § 16b Residence Act!
The application must be submitted to the Jobcenter responsible for the place of residence. You can also get advice at Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs – Counselling for Students with a child.
Single mothers and pregnant students who are enrolled at the University of Hamburg and the HAW can apply for financial support from Madame Courage in their final year of study. The amount and duration of the support is determined individually in each case. Scholarship holders can be supported for up to two semesters up to the maximum amount of “BAföG”.
Every two years, Studierendenwerk awards book grants of up to € 500 from Georg Panzram's legacy. Students can apply,
If you have any questions about the Georg-Panzram-book allowance, please contact our Counselling Centre for Study Financing – BeSt.
Parents are entitled to child benefit (Kindergeld) € 259 per child if they have their place of residence or habitual residence in Germany. It is independent of the parents' income. Only one person can receive child benefit for one and the same child. Child benefit is regulated by law in the Income Tax Act (EStG) and the Federal Child Benefit Act (BKGG).
In the case of gainful employment (e.g. mini-job), child benefit can also be applied for and claimed by students with a residence permit according to § 16b Residence Act!
Detailed information on child benefit (Kindergeld) can be found in the Leaflet Child Benefit published by the Federal Central Tax Office. Get advice and submit applications at the family benefits office of the Federal Employment Agency responsible for your place of residence. You can also get advice at Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs – Counselling for Students with a child.
Mothers and fathers have a legal obligation to support their children. In the case of separated parents, the parent with whom the child resides usually fulfills the maintenance obligation by caring for and raising the child, known as maintenance in kind. The other parent is obliged to pay monetary maintenance. It is the duty of the custodial parent to establish and secure the child's maintenance claims. A voluntary maintenance obligation can be certified at the Youth Welfare Office free of charge or at a notary for a fee. It may also be necessary to determine the amount of the maintenance claim in court, so that in the event of a conflict, e.g. if the maintenance is not paid, it can also be seized.
The amount of maintenance is based on the income of the parent liable for maintenance. There are certain allowances / income limits for this.
The Düsseldorfer Tabelle provides general guidance. The department for assistance at the Youth Welfare Offices, the Public Legal Information and Settlement Office Hamburg (ÖRA) as well as lawyers and notaries advise on maintenance claims for mother and child.
Single parents can receive an advance on maintenance payments from the Youth Welfare Office if the liable parent does not pay sufficient maintenance for the child. According to the Maintenance Advance Act (Unterhaltsvorschussgesetz, UhVorschG), a child receives maintenance advance payments if their place of residence or habitual residence is in Germany, they live in a household with the single parent and do not receive at least the statutory minimum maintenance from the other parent.
The maintenance advance payments amount to € 227 per month for children up to five years of age and € 299 for children from six to eleven years of age. Children aged twelve to seventeen can receive € 394 per month if either the child is not dependent on SGB II benefits or if the single parent in receipt of SGB II benefits has a gross income of at least € 600. Maintenance advance is paid monthly and ends at the latest when the child reaches the age of eighteen (18th birthday).
In the case of gainful employment (e.g. mini-job), maintenance advance can also be applied for and claimed by students with a residence permit according to § 16b Residence Act!
The brochure “Der Unterhaltsvorschuss” by the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth provides detailed information on maintenance advance. Get advice and submit applications at the Youth Welfare Office responsible for your place of residence. Those registered in Hamburg can find their Youth Welfare Office here, all others here. You can also get advice at Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs – Counselling for Students with a child.
Students in financial need, even if they receive “BAföG” payments themselves, can apply for social benefits for their child according to Book II of the Social Code (SGB II). The prerequisite is that the child's income (maintenance, child benefit, etc.) does not exceed the standard requirement level of basic income support (standard rate plus appropriate rent and heating costs). Eligibility for benefits is excluded if the child's needs can be covered by priority benefits (housing benefit, supplementary child allowance).
As a rule, social benefits cannot be claimed by students with a residence permit according to § 16b Residence Act!
The application must be submitted to the Jobcenter responsible for the place of residence. Those registered in Hamburg can find their Jobcenter here, all others here. You can also get advice at Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs – Counselling for Students with a child.
Children and young people from families who receive basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld), housing benefit (Wohngeld), supplementary child allowance (Kinderzuschlag) or benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act (Asylberwerberleistungsgesetz) can receive benefits for education and participation in social and cultural life. In addition to an annual amount for school materials and covering of costs for school trips, this also includes subsidies for lunch in daycare centres and schools, for learning support and for social and cultural activities (membership in sports clubs, music lessons, etc.).
As a rule, these benefits cannot be claimed by students with a residence permit according to § 16b Residence Act!
Detailed information can be found on the Hamburg education package website. You can apply for the package at the relevant offices list here. You can also get advice at Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs – Counselling for Students with a child.
Children residing in Hamburg
In order to relieve the costs of childcare in a daycare centre or by a childminder, parents residing in Hamburg can apply for a daycare centre voucher or a daycare permit, which covers a large part of the costs. The amount of the parents' own contribution depends on the care offered, the duration of care, the family size and the family income. The amount of care depends on the number of hours worked in the course of employment or studies. You can find detailed information about childcare in Hamburg here.
Children residing in another federal state
Children residing outside of Hamburg can be cared for in Hamburg's daycare centers if the city or municipality in which they are registered declares that it will assume the costs. There is no legal entitlement for this cost assumption. It often depends on whether the childcare needs can also be met locally. Get advice and submit applications at the office responsible for child daycare or from the daycare exchanges (for childminding) in the place of residence.
You can also get advice at Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs – Counselling for Students with a child.
Studierendenwerk Hamburg supports students with children with the free kids plate in the cafeterias and in selected cafés (Café Alexanderstraße, Café Jungiusstraße, Café am Mittelweg and Café CFEL). Children of enrolled students at the universities served by the Studierendenwerk receive one free meal each in all of Hamburg's Studierendenwerk cafeterias and in the cafés where a hot meal is offered up to the age of 12 upon presentation of their Youngster Card. This offer applies to all hot meals and is served on a special kids plate. The Youngster Card and the student ID must be shown at the serving counter and at the checkout. Students can apply for the Youngster Card for their children at any cafeteria directly with the respective manager. A temporary certificate will be issued immediately when you fill out the application. Or send the application by mail to the Gastronomy Department of Studierendenwerk Hamburg. The youngster card will also be mailed to you.
Phone
+49 / 40 / 41 902 - 183
(Answering machine outside consultation hours: Leave a message – receive a callback)
Counselling without an appointment
Mon 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thu 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Personal counselling at TU Hamburg and HAW Hamburg twice a month.
Use our counselling times without an appointment or book an appointment.
Address
Grindelallee 9
(3rd floor)
20146 Hamburg
(near Dammtor station)
The mailbox in Grindelallee is accessible throughout.
Postal address
Studierendenwerk Hamburg
Beratungszentrum Soziales & Internationales – BeSI
Postfach 13 01 13
20101 Hamburg
