An advance payment (Vorausleistung) is a special case of BAföG funding. The office pays you money without counting your parents’ maintenance, because they are not paying the maintenance. The term comes from § 36 BAföG. This glossary entry explains the requirements, the process and the terms that play a role.
Short answer: An advance payment under § 36 BAföG is granted if your parents do not pay the parental maintenance counted against your funding (angerechneter Unterhalt) and your training is therefore at risk. You must make this credible. The application must be submitted within the funding period, and the parental maintenance is then not counted (Stand: October 2026).
The Key Points
- An advance payment is BAföG money paid without counting parental maintenance.
- The requirement is that your parents do not pay the maintenance and that your training is therefore at risk.
- You must make these requirements credible. Full proof is not necessary.
- The application must be submitted within the funding period. Applications submitted later are not considered.
- Child benefit that is passed on to you is not counted against the advance payment.
When Does the Advance Payment Apply?
The advance payment is tied to clear requirements. The most important one: you make credible that your parents do not pay the assessed maintenance and that your training is therefore at risk. The rule also covers the case where parents do not provide information despite being obliged to. The table below gives an overview.
| Situation | Consequence under § 36 BAföG |
|---|---|
| Your parents do not pay the assessed maintenance | Advance payment possible if your training is at risk |
| Your parents refuse to provide information despite being obliged to | Advance payment possible if fine and coercive procedures were unsuccessful or are legally impossible |
| Your parents are willing to pay the maintenance | No advance payment |
| Child benefit is passed on to you | Not counted against the advance payment |
What Does This Mean for the Counting?
Normally, the office counts the maintenance your parents owe you against your funding. With an advance payment, this does not happen. You therefore receive the funding without the maintenance amount being counted. How the office then deals with the maintenance claim against your parents is governed by further provisions of BAföG. Ask the responsible office about this before you submit your application.
What Does “Make Credible” Mean?
To make something credible (glaubhaft machen) means to show the office that something is very likely to be the case. You do not have to prove without gaps that your parents are not paying. Which evidence the office requires depends on the individual case. A hearing of your parents can be dispensed with if there is an important reason (§ 36 Abs. 5 BAföG).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to repay the advance payment?
An advance payment is BAföG funding. The general rules apply to the funding amount, including the repayment of the loan portion, which is usually half of the funding. Which parts count as a loan is confirmed to you by the office in the notice.
Can I apply for an advance payment if I have my own income?
The advance payment requires an entitlement to funding. Your own income and assets are taken into account under the general rules. What matters is therefore how high your entitlement is overall.
How long does the decision take?
This varies from case to case. For your application to be considered, it should fall within the funding period. Submitting early saves time and stress.
What is the difference from parental maintenance?
The assessed maintenance is the amount that BAföG calculates from your parents’ income and counts against your funding. If your parents do not pay this amount, the office may grant an advance payment under the conditions of § 36.
How to Proceed Now
- Check whether your parents really are not paying the assessed maintenance, and collect evidence such as correspondence or bank statements.
- Note why your training is at risk, for example because you lack the funds for rent and living costs.
- Submit the application within the funding period and name the maintenance you want to make credible.
- Ask the office to explain the notice to you, in particular how it deals with the maintenance claim against your parents.
Related Articles
- BAföG 2026: Eligibility, amount and repayment explained
- BAföG application: deadlines and documents (in German)
- Studying without BAföG: your funding options
- BAföG Repayment: Start, Instalments, Exemption and Partial Write-off
- Glossary: maximum funding period explained simply
Sources: Federal Ministry of Justice, § 36 BAföG (accessed October 2026).
Stand: October 2026. This glossary entry is general information and not individual advice.
