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If students are entitled to a grant under the Federal Education and Training Assistance Act (BAföG), this initially precludes them from drawing unemployment benefit. This applies even if you are basically eligible for such a grant but do not actually receive one.

There are, however, a number of hardship cases that allow for an interest-free loan under Social Code Book II or a subsidy/loan under Social Code Book XII.

Please be sure to seek individual advice from  (Studierendenwerk Frankfurt am Main) and independent social counselling services before submitting an application, as under certain circumstances an application might jeopardise your residence status.

Good to know:
The authorities responsible might approve one-off grants for maternity clothes or a baby layette.

Children are generally not affected by the exclusion rules for students. They have their own independent claim, so that in the event that an application for what is known as the “benefit community" (Bedarfsgemeinschaft) is rejected, an independent application for the child is still possible.

In addition, children of parents drawing unemployment benefit (Bürgergeld), social benefit (Sozialgeld), social welfare (Sozialhilfe), supplementary child allowance (Kinderzuschlag) or housing benefit (Wohngeld) are entitled to benefits for education and participation (see below).

You can find more information about this on the  (in German only).

The Federal Foundation – Mother and Child provides assistance in financially difficult situations for expenses related to pregnancy and birth, such as maternity clothes or a baby layette. There is no legal entitlement to this support, benefits depend on the respective emergency situation and are means-tested.

Applications for financial support should be submitted to pregnancy counselling centres, e.g. pro familia, Workers' Welfare Association (Arbeiterwohlfahrt), Caritas, Federation of Welfare Associations in Germany (Deutscher Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband), German Red Cross (Deutscher Rotes Kreuz), Diakonisches Werk (a charitable organisation of Protestant churches in Germany), donum vitae, Catholic Women's Welfare Service (Sozialdienst katholischer Frauen) or the pregnancy counselling centres of the cities and districts (and not to the foundation).

The Frankfurt Pass is a service provided by the City of Frankfurt for low-income households with their first place of residence in Frankfurt. It entitles families to many concessions at public institutions in the city and on public transport.

You can find detailed information on the (in German only).

As a supplement to child benefit, parents on a low income can receive supplementary child allowance if they have enough income for themselves but it does not cover all the family's needs.

You can find more about this in the (familienportal).

The purpose of the (Kulturpass) is to enable unemployed persons and people on a low income in Frankfurt to participate in the city's rich cultural portfolio. The pass, which is issued by the association Kultur für ALLE e. V., costs €1 per year for adults and 50 cents for children and enables holders to visit about 200 cultural institutions.

Detailed information can be found on the association's website: . (in German only).

Children in after-school facilities and extended school care (Erweiterte Schulische Betreuung) as well as children newly admitted to nursery school up to 3 months before their third birthday (early admissions (vorgezogene Aufnahmen)) can be entitled to a reduction in fees.  (in German only) can be submitted to the Municipal Education Authority of the City of Frankfurt (Stadtschulamt Frankfurt am Main).

A child is eligible for advance maintenance payments if he/she lives in Germany with a single parent and does not receive maintenance from the other parent (or an orphan's pension), or only partially or irregularly, to the amount of the statutory minimum maintenance allowance (Section 1612a (1) Civil Code) and if he/she is not yet 18 years of age.

All information about advance maintenance payments can be found in the