Bundesportal | Apply for equal treatment of people with disabilities and people with severe disabilities

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Publisher

Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (BMAS)

Last update or date of publication

September 2, 2026

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 now

Government service telephone number calls are charged at local rates.

There are two situations in the job market in which you, as a person with a disability, can be treated on an equal footing with people with severe disabilities:

You want to find a job, or
you want to keep your job.

With this equivalence, you generally have the same status under labor law as people with severe disabilities.

This means, for example, that you are entitled to:

special protection against termination
Assistance with workplace accommodations
Support from specialized services
Employment incentives for employers, such as wage subsidies

However, additional vacation time, free public transportation, and a special old-age pension are excluded. The flat-rate deduction for people with disabilities on income tax does not increase as a result of this equivalence.

If you enjoy special protection against dismissal—for example, because you work as a civil servant—you must be able to provide a compelling justification for why you wish to be treated as a person with a severe disability. For example, you must provide a clear explanation based on specific circumstances as to why your job is less secure due to your disability than that of a colleague without a disability. There must be concrete disability-related reasons, such as if you face the risk of early mandatory retirement due to your disability.

Proof of the degree of disability, such as a copy of your disability determination notice

Antrag auf Gleichstellung mit einem schwerbehinderten Menschen nach § 2 Abs. 3 Sozialgesetzbuch IX (SGB IX)

Label

Preconditions

You are a person with a disability and have a disability rating of less than 50 but at least 30
You are legally residing in Germany, are legally staying in Germany, or are legally employed at a workplace in Germany.
Because of your disability, you are unable to find a suitable job, or your job is at risk due to your disability. Indications that your job is at risk due to your disability may include, for example:
- repeated or frequent absences due to your disability,
- persistent reduced capacity to handle stress,
- mobility limitations due to your disability,
- a permanent need for support from coworkers, or
- noticeable reactions by the employer to disability-related limitations, such as written warnings.

Hints

There is a special provision for adolescents and young adults with disabilities during their vocational training or career orientation: They do not need to apply for equal treatment. If you meet the requirements, you will automatically be granted equal status. However, this equal status applies only to benefits provided by the Integration Office in the context of career orientation and vocational training (bonuses and subsidies toward the costs of vocational training).

Advance payment
no

Basis for legal action

§ 151 Absatz 2, 3 und 4 Sozialgesetzbuch Neuntes Buch (SGB IX)

§ 2 Absatz 3 Sozialgesetzbuch Neuntes Buch (SGB IX)

Legal Remedies

Appeal to the employment agency that issued the decision. Further information on how to lodge an appeal can be found in the respective decision.

Procedure

You can submit your application for equal treatment online or in writing.

If you submit the application online:

To enable the Employment Agency (AA) to verify your eligibility, please fill out the fields in the digital application process for the equal treatment application.
The online application process includes information on the required supporting documents. Your AA may request additional documents as it processes your application.

If you submit your application for equivalence informally—that is, in person (by appointment), by phone, or in writing—to your local Employment Agency (AA):

So that the AA can verify your eligibility, you will then receive a form in which you must answer a few questions.
The AA will review your application.

The following applies to both types of applications:

If you have submitted the application to secure your job, your employer and—if applicable—the works council or staff council and the representative for employees with severe disabilities will be consulted regarding your specific work situation. However, this requires that you have given your prior consent. You will find the relevant consent form in the digital application or on the application form.
You will receive a digital or written notification stating whether your application has been approved or denied.

Deadlines

Objection deadline
1 month
You may file an appeal within one month of receiving the notice.

Processing time

4 weeks until 4 months