Securing livelihoods and government support

Increase the minimum wage

How will the minimum wage be adjusted?

Applying for housing benefit for the first time or again

Do you only have a low income? Then you can apply for housing benefit to reduce your housing costs.

Applying for an increase in housing benefit

Do you receive housing benefit and your entitlement to housing benefit increases? Then you must submit an application for an increase.

Apply for continued housing benefit

If you are already receiving housing benefit and your income situation has not improved significantly, you can apply for continued benefit.

Notification of changes to housing benefit such as number of household members, rent, charges or income

Do you receive housing benefit and your entitlement to housing benefit decreases? You must inform the housing benefit authority immediately.

Passport for low-income earners Issue

As a low-income earner, you can apply for the social pass and receive discounts at municipal facilities.

Benefits for education and participation for children, adolescents and young adults Provision

Benefits for Education and participation benefits for children, adolescents and young adults can be applied for at your local district/city or job center.

Youth Taxi

For young people there is the possibility to drive a taxi at a discount.

Wardrobe

Here you can find out whether and where a clothing store is set up in your municipality.

Cultural projects, funding

Which cultural projects such as concerts and exhibitions are funded?

Lunch at schools

Would you like your child to receive a hot lunch at school? Then you can order this yourself at the school.

Economic youth welfare

Which economic youth welfare services are offered by the municipality?

Landespflegegeld

Under certain conditions, you can apply for the Landespflegegeld, which compensates for additional expenses due to disability.

Rental vehicle

Under what conditions does the municipality offer rental vehicles?

Youth project, apply for project funding

Does the municipality provide funding for municipal youth projects?

Housing security advice

Here you will find offers of help if there is a risk of losing your home

Initial reception centres and emergency accommodation Accommodation

What contact points and accommodation for asylum seekers are there in the municipality?

Housing entitlement certificate issue

If you only have a low income and would therefore like to rent subsidized housing, you can apply for a housing entitlement certificate.

Apply for compensation under the Infection Protection Act for childcare

Your child is affected by a school or daycare closure and you can no longer work because of it? Find out here how you can be reimbursed for loss of earnings.

Apply for compensation under the Infection Protection Act for loss of earnings

If you have to seclude yourself or are no longer allowed to work due to infection control and have a loss of earnings as a result, you may receive compensation.

Apply for compensation under the Infection Protection Act for uncovered operating costs

Have you had to close your business or practice due to an activity ban or quarantine? Here you can find information on how the reimbursement of ongoing non-covered operating costs takes place.

Residence permit due to expulsion

If you have fled from Ukraine, you can receive a residence permit for temporary protection under certain conditions.

Granting of funeral expenses assistance

If you are obliged to cover the funeral costs of a deceased person even though you do not have the financial means to do so yourself, you can apply to the social welfare provider to have the costs covered.

Integration assistance for children and young people with mental disabilities or impending mental disabilities Granting

If a child or young person has a mental disability or is at risk of one and their participation in society is restricted as a result, they can apply for integration assistance.

Apply for vocational training allowance

If you do not live with your parents during your training, you can apply for vocational training allowance to cover your living expenses.

Apply for integration subsidy at the employment agency

If you hire people in your company who are not yet performing at full capacity at the start of employment, you can apply for subsidies to cover wage costs.

Apply for an education loan

If you need financial support for your school education or your studies, you can apply for a temporary low-interest education loan under certain conditions.

If persons insured by law have died in connection with the insured activity, the surviving widows or widowers will receive a widow's or widower's pension as long as they have not remarried.

Applying for sickness benefit for self-employed persons in statutory health insurance

Even if you are self-employed, you can insure yourself at the general contribution rate with statutory sickness benefit entitlement from the 7th week, just like employees subject to compulsory insurance. To do this, you must submit a declaration of choice to your health insurance fund.

Social security rights and obligations in the Union including those related to getting pensions

Here you will find information about your rights and obligations in the field of social security, including relating to pensions.

Receive funding for activation and professional integration measures from the job center

If you receive basic security benefits, you can be supported by measures that make it easier for you to (re)enter the world of work.

Apply for benefits for the integration of self-employed persons

If you receive Citizen's Allowance and would like to become self-employed or are already self-employed, your Jobcenter can support you with necessary purchases of material goods and with free advice and training.

Apply for Basic Income Support

If you do not have enough money to cover your basic living expenses on your own, you can apply for basic income support for job seekers.

If your income or assets are not sufficient to cover your necessary living expenses, you will receive assistance with living expenses (social assistance) under certain conditions.

Basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity Approval

Are you no longer able to pursue gainful employment for health or age reasons and cannot finance your necessary living expenses yourself? Then you can apply for basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity.

Housing benefit change

While you are currently receiving housing assistance, you can submit a new application for a higher housing assistance amount if certain requirements are met.

Reduce housing allowance ex officio (without an application)

If you receive housing assistance and your financial situation improves, the responsible agency may reduce the amount of assistance you receive.

Receiving Special Benefits for Living Expenses on a Case-by-Case Basis Under the Social Compensation Program

If you are in need of financial assistance due to the consequences of the injury, you—as the injured person or a surviving family member—may be eligible to receive living expenses through the social compensation program.  

Injured parties can receive benefits for the continuation of their household as a result of a recognized consequence of injury.

Receiving benefits for other life situations under the Social Compensation program

If a specific need is not covered by other social compensation benefits, you may, in exceptional cases, be eligible for benefits under “Other Circumstances.”

Benefits for education and participation for young adults who receive ongoing basic security benefits in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity

If you are a young adult receiving basic income support due to full and permanent reduction in earning capacity and attend a general or vocational school, you may be entitled to education and participation benefits.

Citizen's income change

If you receive basic security benefits, you must notify the Jobcenter of any changes that may affect your benefits.

Apply for continued entitlement to citizen's allowance

When your current approval period ends, you must submit an application for continued approval in order to continue receiving benefits.

If you receive Citizen's Allowance and you want to become self-employed or take up employment subject to social insurance contributions, you can receive an introductory allowance under certain conditions.

Apply for municipal integration services

If you receive a citizen's allowance and have difficulties finding work due to your personal circumstances, the Jobcenter can support you with advice and support services.

Applying for education and participation benefits for children, young people or young adults in receipt of basic income support

Children, adolescents and young adults who receive citizen's allowance or social assistance or whose parents receive child supplement or housing benefit can generally receive benefits from the education package.

Rent arrears takeover in case of receipt according to SGB II

If you have rent arrears and are at risk of losing your housing, you can apply for financial assistance from the Job Center.

If you have further, labor market-related support needs in addition to the other legally regulated support services for integration into work, you can apply for benefits from the so-called Free Support SGB II in individual cases.

Approval of One-Time Needs Pursuant to Section 31 of SGB XII

Are you unable to finance one-off needs yourself, such as initial equipment for an apartment or for a baby? Then you can apply for one-off benefits from your local social welfare office.

Assistance with living expenses Authorization for minors in foster care

Minor children who live in another family (foster family or relatives) can receive benefits to secure their livelihood in accordance with SGB XII in order to secure the necessary livelihood of the foster child. Foster carers can also receive these benefits.

Assumption of Rent Arrears Under SGB XII

If you have rent debts, you can receive financial help to avoid homelessness.

If you receive assistance with living expenses, you or your child can receive education and participation benefits. This includes support for participation in school, daycare, child daycare and leisure activities as well as tutoring, school meals and school transportation.

If you need financial support to take part in school activities, tutoring, meals and transportation, you can receive benefits for education and participation under certain conditions.

Benefits for Education and Participation for Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: Approval While Currently Receiving Housing Assistance

If you receive housing benefit, you or your child can receive benefits from the education and participation package. This includes support for school, daycare, child daycare and leisure activities as well as tutoring, meals in schools and daycare centers and school transport.

Benefits for Education and Participation for Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: Approval While Continuing to Receive the Child Supplement

If you receive supplementary child allowance, you can receive benefits for your child from the education and participation package. This includes support for school, daycare, child daycare and leisure activities as well as tutoring, meals in schools and daycare centers and school transport.

Apply for training allowance

As a person with disabilities, you can receive training allowance to cover your living costs if you take part in certain training measures.

Apply for subsidies for the training and employment of people with disabilities at the Jobcenter

If you train or further train people with disabilities and severely disabled people in your company, you can receive a subsidy towards their training pay. If you subsequently employ severely disabled people on a permanent basis, you can receive a wage subsidy.

Apply for subsidies for the training and employment of people with disabilities at the Employment Agency

If you train or further train people with disabilities and severely disabled people in your company, you can receive a subsidy towards their training pay. If you subsequently employ severely disabled people on a permanent basis, you can receive a wage subsidy.

Apply for basic training for people with severe visual or hearing impairments

If you have a severe visual or hearing impairment, you first have to learn how to deal with the new situation. With basic training, you can learn special skills that you will need at work and in everyday life.

Apply for an integration grant from the job center

If you employ people in your company who are not yet fully able to work at the start of their employment, you can apply for subsidies towards wage costs.

Apply for vocational training for people with disabilities who are fully incapacitated for work

If you cannot currently work at least 3 hours per day because of your disability, you may be eligible for assistance at a sheltered workshop or other benefit provider.

Apply for an assessment of the vocational suitability of people with disabilities

If you need assistance with your vocational integration due to a disability or an impending disability, you can have an assessment conducted to determine which types of work are suitable for you.

Apply for unemployment benefit

If you lose your job or training place, you can apply for unemployment benefit to ensure that you are financially secure.

Apply for insolvency allowance

If your employer is insolvent and can no longer pay your wages, you can apply for insolvency benefits.

Apply for seasonal short-time allowance

If your company belongs to the construction industry or an equivalent company and you lose work during the so-called bad weather period, you can partially compensate for your employees' loss of earnings with seasonal short-time allowance.

Apply for child supplement

If you as parents earn enough income for yourself, but your income is not enough or only just enough for the whole family, you can apply for the child supplement.

Apply for transitional allowance for people with disabilities

As a person with disabilities, you may receive transitional benefits to help cover your living expenses if you participate in certain educational activities.

Cost absorption for participation in a work trial or clarification of occupational aptitude

In order for people with disabilities to receive support for labor market integration, their occupational aptitude may need to be determined in advance or a work trial conducted. The employment agency pays the individual participation costs.

Benefits for social participation in statutory accident insurance

If your equal social participation is at risk as a result of an accident at work or on the way to work or a recognized occupational disease, you can receive benefits for social participation.

Receive pension from statutory accident insurance

If you are reduced in your earning capacity after an accident at work or due to an occupational disease, you will receive a pension from the statutory accident insurance.

Receive transitional allowance from statutory accident insurance during occupational rehabilitation

If you are taking part in qualified measures for participation in working life (occupational rehabilitation) as a result of an accident at work or commuting accident or a recognized occupational disease and are not receiving a salary, you will receive a transitional allowance.

Receive injury benefit from the statutory accident insurance

If you are unable to work due to an accident at work or an occupational disease, you will receive injury benefit.

Receiving an orphan's pension from the statutory accident insurance fund

If your parent has died as a result of an insurance accident, you will receive an orphan's pension from the statutory accident insurance under certain conditions.

Receive child injury benefit from statutory accident insurance

Your child had an accident at kindergarten or school and therefore has to be cared for by you at home? If so, you can receive child injury benefit under certain conditions.

Applying for pension compensation for surviving spouses from statutory accident insurance in the event of remarriage

As a surviving dependant, you will receive a settlement from the statutory accident insurance instead of a pension if you remarry or enter into a new civil partnership.

Receive aid for surviving dependants in agricultural accident insurance

As a survivor or surviving dependant, you can receive benefits from the agricultural accident insurance. This is possible if your relative or dependant has not died as a result of an insured event.