Detailed description
Social assistance is available to those who cannot, or cannot sufficiently, earn their living from their own resources, meaning neither income nor assets are sufficient. The prerequisite is a temporary, at least six-month, but not permanent incapacity to work in the general labor market, meaning the applicant can work less than three hours a day. Eligibility may also exist if they are receiving an early retirement pension.
They live in a special form of residential integration assistance and this facility assumes overall responsibility for their daily living and integration.
You will generally receive social assistance to cover your living expenses if you are in need of assistance and:
- neither basic security for job seekers,
- still receive basic security in old age and in the event of incapacity for work.
- Children under 15 years of age receive social assistance if they only:
- live with people who receive help with their living expenses (usually with their parents) and
- cannot secure their livelihood despite maintenance claims.
The benefits of subsistence assistance include:
- The standard flat-rate allowance for securing a living, for example, for food, clothing, or personal care. A separate standard allowance is set for each family member.
- Educational and participation services for children and young people, for example for:
- school trips,
- personal school supplies,
- Student tickets,
- supplementary learning support,
- Lunch in schools or
- Club contributions, music lessons and the like.
- Needs for accommodation and heating.
In exceptional cases, assumption of debts for:
- to remedy a similar emergency, for example debts to the energy supplier.
- Needs for contributions to your health and nursing care insurance and, under certain conditions, for your retirement provision.
In addition to your standard rate, you can receive benefits for additional needs from
You can apply for these additional needs if you:
- who meet the requirements for a severely disabled person's ID card with the symbol "G" and are not able to work under pension law,
- expectant mothers from the 13th week of pregnancy,
- are single parents, have reached the age of 15, are disabled and receive assistance for appropriate schooling or training within the framework of integration assistance,
- are dependent on a special diet due to a medical condition, which leads to higher costs than a "normal" diet,
- generate hot water not through a central heating system, but decentrally (e.g. boiler) or
- You are a student and, due to the respective school regulations or school requirements, have expenses for the purchase or borrowing of school books or equivalent workbooks.
If you don't live alone, the social welfare office will consider your entire family income to determine your need for assistance. This includes the income of all family members living together in the same apartment, for example:
- earned income,
- Maintenance payments and
- Pension income.
Child benefit paid for minors and any maintenance payments for a child are allocated to that child in order to cover his or her needs.
Certain assets are considered to be non-recognizable assets, for example:
- an appropriate house plot.
Except in a few exceptional cases, you will not receive any benefits for past periods.