Assistance for living expenses is a social benefit in Germany. It provides financial support if you cannot support yourself and are not entitled to other benefits such as basic income support. It is part of social assistance and is intended to guarantee your minimum subsistence level.
You can receive subsistence assistance if you are temporarily unable to work, for example, due to health reasons. This support helps you if you cannot pay for your living expenses yourself because your income or assets are insufficient.
More Information
Publisher
No information available
Last update or date of publication
No information available
Contact
The government service telephone number 115 – your point of contact for questions related to the federal, state and local.
Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 18:00 (and beyond these times in some regions).
Call 115 nowGovernment service telephone number calls are charged at local rates.
Application requirement, the application takes effect retroactively from the first of the calendar month in which it is submitted.
Preconditions
Please log in with your BundID to start the application. Your personal data will be included in the application and do not need to be entered again. Re-authentication is mandatory before sending.
Hints
The online service can only be used with the BundID.
Applying for assistance with living expenses is free of charge.
Basis for legal action
You can apply for assistance with living expenses if you are unable to fully cover your living expenses yourself or with the help of other people (e.g. parents and children). You are also entitled to assistance if you are fully disabled and cannot work regularly for at least 3 hours a day for the foreseeable future (more than 6 months).
Further requirements are that you:
o have not yet reached retirement age
o do not receive basic security for job seekers (citizen’s allowance)
o do not receive basic security in old age or in the event of incapacity for work
o do not receive basic benefits for asylum seekers
In addition, you must not have any or insufficient entitlement to other social benefits, such as child benefit, housing benefit, pension, sickness benefit and parental benefit. These must be used first (with priority).
When deciding whether you will receive assistance with living expenses, the income and assets of you and the family members living in your household will be taken into account.
The legal basis is given in accordance with Sections 27 - 40 of the Social Code - Book Twelve (SGB XII).
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_12/BJNR302300003.html
In addition, information on legal remedies that apply when using the service and information on the presumption of approval are recorded here.
Legal Remedies
You can apply for assistance with living expenses if you are unable to fully cover your living expenses yourself or with the help of other people (e.g. parents and children). You are also entitled to assistance if you are fully disabled and cannot work regularly for at least 3 hours a day for the foreseeable future (more than 6 months).
Further requirements are that you:
o have not yet reached retirement age
o do not receive basic security for job seekers (citizen’s allowance)
o do not receive basic security in old age or in the event of incapacity for work
o do not receive basic benefits for asylum seekers
In addition, you must not have any or insufficient entitlement to other social benefits, such as child benefit, housing benefit, pension, sickness benefit and parental benefit. These must be used first (with priority).
When deciding whether you will receive assistance with living expenses, the income and assets of you and the family members living in your household will be taken into account.
The legal basis is given in accordance with Sections 27 - 40 of the Social Code - Book Twelve (SGB XII).
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_12/BJNR302300003.html
In addition, information on legal remedies that apply when using the service and information on the presumption of approval are recorded here.
Related Links
- Broadcast TV fee exemptionCurrently this link is only available in german
- Infoline welfareCurrently this link is only available in german
- Information on social benefitsCurrently this link is only available in german
- Information on the Relatives Relief ActCurrently this link is only available in german
- Social assistance, basic security in old age and in cases of permanent incapacity for workCurrently this link is only available in german
Deadlines
Application requirement, the application takes effect retroactively from the first of the calendar month in which it is submitted.
Processing time
The time required to process your application varies from case to case and may take several weeks.
It is important that you submit all required evidence as quickly and completely as possible.
More Information
Publisher
Hamburg
Last update or date of publication
Contact
The government service telephone number 115 – your point of contact for questions related to the federal, state and local.
Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 18:00 (and beyond these times in some regions).
Call 115 nowGovernment service telephone number calls are charged at local rates.
Assistance for living expenses is a social benefit in Germany. It provides financial support if you cannot support yourself and are not entitled to other benefits such as basic income support. It is part of social assistance and is intended to guarantee your minimum subsistence level.
You can receive subsistence assistance if you are temporarily unable to work, for example, due to health reasons. This support helps you if you cannot pay for your living expenses yourself because your income or assets are insufficient.
- valid identity card or passport, if applicable, proof of residence
- Proof of temporary total incapacity for work or proof of extended inpatient care, proof of receiving an old-age pension before reaching the standard retirement age, proof of a child under 15 years of age without priority benefits
- Proof of income, for example, for pension, sick pay, child benefit, maintenance payments or maintenance advances.
- Proof of assets, bank statements for all accounts for the last 3 months before application; for example, savings balances, vehicle registration certificate Part I, life insurance policies
- Lease agreement and subsequent amendments, in particular regarding the rent amount as well as operating and heating costs
- Proof of health and long-term care insurance,
- Proof of existing insurance policies such as household contents and liability insurance
- Disability ID card (if applicable)
- completed checklist and social assistance declaration
- The checklist and social assistance declaration are available upon request; see address and contact details.
Preconditions
- They live and reside in Germany.
- They are in need of help and either
- temporarily fully incapacitated for work or
- receive an old-age pension, but have not yet reached the age limit for the standard old-age pension or
- have children under 15 years of age who are not entitled to SGB II benefits through a household or
- are in inpatient care for longer than 6 months.
- You will not receive:
- Basic income support for job seekers,
- Basic income support for the elderly and those with reduced earning capacity or
- Basic services for asylum seekers.
Hints
Social assistance benefits to secure your livelihood are provided by a different agency than outpatient integration assistance (EGH) benefits. The EGH benefit notice is issued centrally by the Integration Assistance Office in the Wandsbek district (W/EH), while the notice regarding social assistance benefits is issued by the responsible social welfare office in the district.
The temporary total incapacity for work is reviewed by the German Pension Insurance at the request of the job center or a specialist office for basic income support and social affairs.
fee
- Advance payment
- no
Basis for legal action
Sections 27 - 40 of the Social Code - Book Twelve (SGB XII)
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_12/BJNR302300003.html#BJNR302300003BJNG000501308
Legal Remedies
Contradiction
Related Links
- Broadcast TV fee exemptionCurrently this link is only available in german
- Infoline welfareCurrently this link is only available in german
- Information on social benefitsCurrently this link is only available in german
- Information on the Relatives Relief ActCurrently this link is only available in german
- Social assistance, basic security in old age and in cases of permanent incapacity for workCurrently this link is only available in german
Deadlines
- You will receive the benefit from the day your entitlement and need for assistance become known.
- You will not receive retroactive payments for periods prior to the application.
- The application is usually approved for 12 months.
Processing time
The processing time depends on the individual case.