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.

Due to the nature or severity of your disability, you are currently not, not yet, or not yet able to be employed again on the general labor market? If so, the Federal Employment Agency will, under certain conditions, provide funding for services in the entry procedure and vocational training area in a recognized workshop for people with disabilities or with another service provider.

The aim of the support is to offer you appropriate vocational training in particular. The vocational training is based on the conditions of the general labor market and should be carried out as close to the workplace or in the company as possible. As far as possible, your capabilities should be developed in such a way that you are able to work in the general labor market or that you are subsequently able to take up employment in the field of work, for example in a workshop for disabled people.

In this development process, you will be continuously supported by workshops or other service providers by being instructed, supervised, accompanied and trained. If your employment agency is the responsible rehabilitation provider, it will assume the costs.

Accompanying services are available to you throughout the entire measure. They provide medical, educational, psychological and social support.

The services are funded for a maximum of 27 months and are divided into 2 phases: the initial procedure and the vocational training area.

Entrance procedure

In the initial procedure, it is determined whether the services in the vocational training area and, in perspective, in the work area will help you to participate in working life. Here, for example, it is determined which work areas and employment opportunities are suitable for you or whether other vocational training services are also suitable for you. These findings on your performance potential form the basis for the individual integration plan that is developed for you and with you. The integration plan contains statements about your specific support needs, the support measures and your career prospects.

The support usually lasts 3 months. The support period can be shortened to up to 4 weeks.

Vocational training area

In the vocational training area, you will receive a vocational qualification that is geared to your individual support needs. For example, you will be taught vocational knowledge and skills, such as how to handle materials, tools or machines. In this way, you will learn to carry out professional activities independently. In addition, you will be supported in strengthening your social skills and developing your personality. You can also complete all or part of the vocational training measures in companies on the general labor market, for example through a company internship or at an outsourced vocational training center.

Qualification takes place both through individual measures and through courses. You have a say in the decisions about your individual qualification path.

During the initial procedure and the vocational training area, you are entitled to either transitional allowance or training allowance. You are also covered by health, nursing, accident and pension insurance.

When you contact your advisor, please ask what other documents you will need.

• You have a disability and your rehabilitation provider is the Federal Employment Agency.
• Your prospects of participating in or returning to working life are not only temporarily significantly reduced due to the nature or severity of your disability and you therefore need assistance to participate in working life.
  • Or: You are threatened by a disability with the same occupational consequences.
• Due to the nature or severity of your disabilities, you are not, not yet, or not yet able to return to work in the general labor market.
• It is expected that you will be able to perform at least a "minimum of economically usable work" following the vocational training measures.

Other requirements:

• You have no extraordinary need for supervision and/or care.
• You do not endanger yourself or others through your social behavior (influenced by the disability).

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

You must contact your local employment agency so that you can receive benefits in the entry procedure or vocational training area:

• Make an appointment with the Vocational Rehabilitation and Participation team at your employment agency.
• If you do not yet have a personal contact person at your employment agency, make an appointment via the service hotline of the Federal Employment Agency.
• In a personal meeting, you will clarify together whether you are eligible for services in the entry procedure and vocational training area.
• If your advisor determines that the support will help you to participate in working life, you will discuss the possible alternatives for providing these services together, for example in a workshop or with another service provider as a personal budget.
• Your advisor will also discuss the forms you need to fill in with you.
• Your contact person will provide you with the necessary forms online in the application overview of your user account. If you do not yet have a user account, you will receive the necessary access data during the consultation.
• Log in to your user account on the Federal Employment Agency's online portal and download the forms. If you have any questions, you can contact the Federal Employment Agency via your user account mailbox.
• Finally, upload the completed forms via your user account and send them off.
• Your documents will be checked. You will be informed of the result of the check in writing.
• The Federal Employment Agency will register you with the workshop or the other service provider. You will then be informed about the specific start of your participation.

Processing usually takes several weeks. Once the benefit has been approved, the measure should begin as soon as possible in coordination with the provider.

There are no costs.