Exemption from the broadcasting fee is possible on application for

• Recipients of social assistance,
• recipients of social benefit or unemployment benefit II,
• asylum seekers,
• persons entitled to special welfare benefits,
• BAföG recipients and recipients of vocational training assistance (who do not live with their parents),
• recipients of basic security benefits,
• recipients of care allowance and care allowances,
• deaf-blind people and recipients of assistance for the blind.

The broadcasting fee for severely disabled persons who are not exempt from the obligation to pay as recipients of one of the aforementioned benefits is reduced to one third upon application.

Procedure:

People with disabilities and the RF mark, who were exempt from the previous broadcasting fee, will be automatically switched to the reduced fee of €5.99 per month on January 1, 2013. The reduction will apply until the underlying notification expires. Anyone who was previously exempt for health reasons should check whether an exemption for the aforementioned financial reasons is possible. An exemption for financial reasons is also valid until the expiry of the underlying decision.

If you apply for the award of the "RF" mark (= exemption from the obligation to pay the broadcasting fee) with an application for assessment in accordance with the German Social Security Code - Ninth Book - (SGB IX), you will receive an application form from the ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio (formerly: GEZ) contribution service from your responsible pension office if required. You can also download this form online from the Beitragsservice website. To avoid any legal disadvantages, please complete, sign and forward it to the Contribution Service as soon as possible.

An overview of the details of the reasons and requirements for exemption and more detailed explanations of the reduction can be found on the Beitragsservice website.