Family-friendly institution of higher education

Pregnancy is reported to the central student advisory service with a doctor's certificate, medical certificate or a copy of the mother's passport. This is followed by a risk assessment, calculation of the maternity protection periods and individual advisory service, guidance, advice on the further organization of your studies. In the case of activities involving potentially hazardous materials, early notification is particularly important so that suitable protective measures can be taken.

The Maternity Protection Act also applies to female students if compulsory module components/courses or internship, work placement, practicum are planned. The protection periods before and after childbirth serve to protect the health of mother and child. A voluntary waiver of certain protection periods is possible, but can be revoked at any time.

Students can apply for up to three years of parental leave within the first eight years of their child's life. During this time, it is still possible to attend module components/courses and take a test. Individual planning should be coordinated with the Student Advisory Service, academic advising at an early stage.

Various state benefits are available for financial support, including maternity allowance, parental leave allowance, family allowance, child allowance, maintenance advance and BAföG (German Federal Training Assistance Act) regulations with possible extensions or childcare allowances. As eligibility requirements vary from person to person, it is recommended that you seek personal advice to ensure optimal planning.

Maternity leave protects pregnant and breastfeeding employment from health risks and appointments for professors; appointment funds.

Pregnant women may only be employed six weeks before the date of delivery with their consent. After delivery, employment is prohibited for eight weeks - twelve weeks in the case of premature or multiple births. From the beginning of the pregnancy until four months after the birth, the employer is not permitted to give notice of the employment relationship, with a few exceptions. This also applies after a miscarriage after the twelfth week of pregnancy.

The Maternity Protection Act also regulates general and individual employment bans. For example, a general ban on working on Sundays and at night is issued. Work after 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. must be applied for via an official approval procedure.

Employees can take up to three years of parental leave per child. Working time models and organizational adjustments can be individually coordinated to enable a good agreement between family and appointment funding for professors; appointment funds.

Maternity benefit
Maternity benefit is a wage replacement payment during the maternity protection period. The prerequisites(s) for receiving this benefit are an existing employment relationship at the beginning of the maternity protection period, an employment relationship that begins after the start of the protection period or an employment relationship that was permissibly terminated by the employer during the pregnancy. Maternity benefit is paid at the beginning of the maternity protection period. This begins six weeks before the birth and usually ends eight weeks afterwards. In the case of premature births, twelve weeks after the due date.
Maternity benefit can be applied for from the health insurance provider together with confirmation of the date of delivery.

Parental leave allowance (Elterngeld)
Elterngeld (parental leave allowance) is a state assignment, credit, performance to support families who want to supervise their child themselves after the birth and are therefore not or not fully able to work. Elterngeld (parental leave allowance) is calculated on the basis of the previous net income.
Elterngeld (parental leave allowance) can be applied for in different amounts, variations and for both parents. It is therefore worth getting good information about this.
You can find more information here

Family allowance
All parents, including adoptive/step or foster parents, receive family allowance irrespective of their income. The family allowance serves to secure the basic needs of the child. It can be applied for from birth and is paid until the child is at least 18 years old. If the child lives with both parents, they can decide which of them should receive the family allowance.
Further information and the application form can be found here

Child supplement
The child supplement is a state financial support for low-income parents. Only those who can prove that they have a minimum income (€600 for single parents/€900 for couples) and are still below a certain income limit so that they cannot fully support a child are eligible for child supplement.
Further Information and the application form can be found here

Advance maintenance payments
Single parents who receive none or only irregular maintenance from the other parent receive maintenance advance.
Further information and the application form can be found here

Childcare costs
Under certain prerequisites(s) (e.g. receipt of housing benefit), the Ostalbkreis regional offices will cover part or all of the costs of childcare.
Further information and the application form can be found here