Maternity during studies
Pregnancy during your studies can raise many questions and uncertainties. Whether planned or unplanned, combining studies and parenthood is challenging, but feasible. A flexible timetable and financial aid make it possible to combine studies and family. But what specific support can you receive if you become pregnant during your studies?
Normally, student support (BAföG) is only paid if you are actively studying. However, there are exceptions in the special situation of pregnancy. If you are temporarily unable to study due to your pregnancy, BAföG will continue to be paid for up to three months (§ 15 Para. 2a BAföG). This gives you some financial breathing space and gives you time to prepare for the upcoming birth.
If you have a child during your studies, this does not mean that your financial support from BAföG will be cancelled. You can continue to receive BAföG and also receive a childcare allowance of 160 € per child under the age of 14. This additional support helps you to remain financially viable and to organise childcare for your child. The supplement must be applied for separately and is not automatically included in the BAföG application. You have to fill out a separate form for this.
Do you want to calculate your school or student BAföG and apply for it directly? With our BAföG calculator from LeistungsLotse, you can quickly and easily check whether and how much BAföG you are entitled to and send your application directly to us. Check now!
Parents are also relieved during the repayment phase of BAföG. If you are on parental leave during the repayment phase or have a low income, you have the option of applying for an exemption from BAföG repayments. This helps to avoid financial burdens during this special time and gives you more room to concentrate on your child.
As soon as your child is born, you can apply for parental allowance. Basic parental allowance is paid for 14 months and is split between both parents in the case of couples. Single parents can receive the full 14 months. The parental allowance amounts to around 67% of your previous net income, but at least 300 € per month. As parental allowance is taken into account as income in BAföG, your BAföG rate can be reduced if the parental allowance exceeds the tax-free amount. However, this rarely happens as your monthly BAföG allowance is also increased by 730 € per month.
Child support amounts to 255 €, which you can receive at the same time as BAföG and is not taken into account. You can find out more about this in our article on child support and BAföG.
Maternity leave generally lasts from 6 weeks before the due date until 8 weeks after, during which time mothers are exempt from examinations and events. As long as maternity leave is less than 3 months, BAföG does not have to be paused. If you have statutory health insurance and have at least one part-time job during your studies, you will also receive maternity benefit of 13 euros per day from your health insurance provider. If you worked before the birth, your employer must top up the remainder of your previous salary.
In addition to BAföG, there are other financial aids available to you as a pregnant student. Many foundations offer financial support specifically for students, such as scholarships for students with children. In addition, the Federal Foundation Mother and Child offers help in special emergencies, for example for the initial equipment of your child. These grants are independent of other social benefits and are not counted as income.
In addition to the aid mentioned above, as a student you can apply for an educational loan. The loan amount is between 1,000 and 7,200 €, whereby the amount is paid out in monthly instalments. The advantage of an education loan is the flexible repayment terms. However, the instalments can be a financial burden over time due to the interest.
In some cases, it is also possible to apply for citizens allowance. This is especially true if you are in a difficult financial situation during your studies. You can find out more about when you can receive citizens allowance here.
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Pregnancy while studying can seem overwhelming at first, but with the right support, this special phase can be managed well. There are numerous financial aids such as BAföG, parental allowance, maternity allowance and the childcare supplement, which are specially tailored to the needs of students. In addition, scholarships, educational loans and the Federal Mother and Child Foundation offer further options to ease the financial burden. With good planning and the utilisation of these options, you can successfully continue your studies and prepare for the birth of your child at the same time.
Do you want to calculate your school or student BAföG and apply for it directly? With our BAföG calculator from LeistungsLotse, you can quickly and easily check whether and how much BAföG you are entitled to and send your application directly to us. Check now!
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