You can receive basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity if you

• are of legal age and
• either
  • can only work less than 3 hours a day for the foreseeable future or
  • have reached the standard retirement age - this age limit has been gradually increasing from 65 to 67 since 2012 - and
• are unable to support themselves and
• receive no - or insufficient - benefits from insurance and pension schemes and
• have your habitual residence in the Federal Republic of Germany.

You can also receive basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity if you

• are undergoing the entry procedure and vocational training in a workshop for people with disabilities or with another service provider, or

• are in a training relationship for which you receive a budget for training.

As a person entitled to benefits, you are obliged to help yourself and to claim other social benefits first if you can thereby avoid needing help.

• avoid,
• eliminate,
• shorten or
• reduce your need for assistance.

This includes the following benefits, for example:

• Pension
• housing benefit
• Claims against third parties, for example maintenance payments.

You should only claim basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity once you have exhausted these social benefits.