What can be a challenge as a couple often becomes a problem for single parents. To get a child and a job together alone is a challenge in itself.

A single parent is often even more under pressure than couples. Because if you raise a child alone, you are also alone with all the tasks. All tasks that arise in addition to work, such as household, appointments, shopping and care, fall to one parent. This usually means doing everything together with the child. A single parent is always electrified, because even if the child is asleep, he or she has to complete the tasks that were left unattended during the day. This is where outside help is needed. Be it family members, friends, the employer or our state. There are plenty of offers of help that single parents can and should take advantage of. No matter whether personnel or financially. In both fields there are serious differences between a couple and a single parent.

The most important tip is to contact a counselling centre. These centres can help you with advice and good tips. They can help with childcare, financial support, cures and other issues.

We will give you some hints for financial support in advance so that you know where you can get help. Not only the state can help you, your employer also has possibilities. One possibility is the so-called care allowance. Your employer can relieve you of part or all of the financial burden of childcare. This means the costs for a childminder, kindergarten, crèche and the like.

Another relief is the change to tax class 2, which is directly for single parents. It is important to know that you will not automatically be placed in tax class 2. You must therefore apply to change to this class. You can obtain the form for this from your tax office. The tax advantage is officially called the single parent relief amount and thus reduces your tax burden. In short, an amount that is intended to relieve single parents financially. For the first child, single parents receive an annual tax relief of 1,908 euros. The amount is increased by 240 euros for each additional child.

If the other parent does not pay alimony for the child, there is another possibility: the alimony advance. You can apply for this at the Youth Welfare Office. Further financial assistance which you should have heard here also are: Housing benefit, child supplement, separation support, divorced support and child supplement. You can find out which of these funds you are entitled to in particular from the advice centres mentioned above. Because there are certain prerequisites for all these benefits.

Furthermore, in addition to financial relief, there is also, of course, personnel assistance. On the one hand, there are various associations that can help you. On the other hand, there is state advisory assistance. If you need a lawyer and cannot afford him. For this you can ask with a Rechtspfleger or with the administrative court. Further personnel assistance is domestic help, Leihomas and honorary care of children. Not to forget friends, family and neighbours.