Finance

BAföG contains various special regulations for pregnant women and trainees with children (including students). For example, there is a childcare allowance or increased allowances for additional earnings. In addition, periods spent caring for your own children up to the age of 14 can be taken into account as a reason for a BAföG extension if the standard period of study is exceeded.

Further information is also available at: StW-ON Finances & BAFöG pregnancy and raising children

If you have any questions about BAföG, please contact the BAföG office of the Studierendenwerk OstNiedersachsen:

Studierendenwerk OstNiedersachsen
Wilhelmstraße 1 B | 38100 Braunschweig
Phone: +49 531 23045-602; +49 531 23045-606
E-mail: stw.braunschweig(at)bafoeg-niedersachsen.de

Below you will find further institutions or direct contact persons for student financing:

Social counselling service of Studierendenwerk OstNiedersachsen

TU Braunschweig Scholarship Portal

Stipendium Plus

KfW Student Loan

If you have statutory health insurance cover and you are entitled to sick pay, you will be eligible for maternity benefit.

Employees or students who have an employment contract, including as a student assistant or in marginal employment, will receive maternity benefit during the periods of protection, i. e. generally six weeks before and eight weeks after giving birth. The amount of maternity benefit you will receive depends on your average pay during the last three full calendar months minus statutory contributions. For details, please contact the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend).

https://familienportal.de/familienportal/meta/languages/family-benefits

The amount of parental allowance is based on the monthly disposable net income that the parent caring for the child had before the birth and which ceases after the birth. The parental allowance replaces between 65 and 100 percent of the net income before the birth of the child. It amounts to a minimum of €300 and a maximum of €1,800 per month. The minimum parental allowance of €300 is also available for parents who had no income at all before the birth, including students.

The parental allowance office responsible for Braunschweig is located in the children, youth and family department of the city administration.

You can find the contact details and further information here.

Child benefit is paid regardless of income for all children up to the age of 18 without any further conditions.
It is also possible to extend the benefit until the age of 25, e.g. due to training. Child benefit is currently €250 per child.

Further information can be found at the Federal Employment Agency.

The family benefits office responsible for Braunschweig is located in Helmstedt.

Familienkasse Niedersachsen-Bremen, Standort Helmstedt
Magdeburger Tor 10 | 38350 Helmstedt
Phone: 0800 455 5530
E-mail: familienkasse-niedersachsen-bremen(at)arbeitsagentur.de

If you are on a low income, you may be eligible for additional child benefit (Kinderzuschlag). You will have to meet a number of criteria. Students receiving a BAföG grant or loan are only eligible for additional child benefit in exceptional circumstances. For details on additional child benefit, please contact the Federal Employment Agency.

The family benefits office responsible for Braunschweig is located in Helmstedt.

Familienkasse Niedersachsen-Bremen, Standort Helmstedt
Magdeburger Tor 10 | 38350 Helmstedt
Phone: 0800 455 5530
E-mail: familienkasse-niedersachsen-bremen(at)arbeitsagentur.de

Housing allowance is a state rent subsidy intended to enable people with low incomes to live in suitable accommodation. Most students are not entitled to housing benefit because they either receive BAföG or their own or their parents' income is too high. Under certain circumstances, however, students can also receive housing benefit. The general requirement for this is that you have your own household and are therefore no longer part of your parents' household.

Further information can be obtained from the housing benefit office of the city of Braunschweig:

Housing allowance

In principle, students cannot receive a citizen's allowance, but there are some exceptions in this case. However, there may be an entitlement to additional needs, e.g. in the case of pregnancy, for single parents or for cost-intensive food. In addition, one-off grants for maternity clothing and initial baby equipment can be applied for. Regardless of the parents' student status, they may be entitled to a child supplement. The application must be submitted to the local job centre.

Arbeitsagentur

Jobcenter Braunschweig

Studis-online