Basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity according to SGB XII

If your income is not sufficient to cover your basic living expenses in old age or in the event of a full reduction in earning capacity, you can apply for basic income support.

Anyone who has reached the age limit (65 years or older, depending on the individual case) or is permanently fully incapacitated for work as an adult for health reasons can receive basic security benefits in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity.
Basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity is intended to ensure the necessary means of subsistence - just like assistance with living expenses. This applies in particular to the costs of food, accommodation, clothing, personal hygiene, household effects, heating and personal everyday needs such as the telephone, newspaper or going to a concert.

Benefits for care home residents
If the person concerned lives in a nursing home, home for the disabled or retirement home, they receive an amount for the costs of accommodation and heating. The calculation is based on the average costs of a single-person household in the area of the respective provider.

Scope of the basic income support

The amount of the benefit depends on the level of need; the responsible body must take into account the person's own income and assets when calculating the amount.

Relatives are only liable for any maintenance obligations in the case of basic income support (in contrast to subsistence assistance) if their annual income exceeds 100,000.00 euros. The legislator has ruled out so-called heir liability, meaning that heirs are not obliged to reimburse any costs incurred for basic security benefits.

These regulations are intended to make it easier for those affected to claim assistance.

Neediness

Those affected must be in need, i.e. their income and assets (or those of their spouse/cohabiting partner) must not be sufficient to ensure the necessary means of subsistence.

If the person in need of assistance has dependent parents or children, their annual income must not exceed 100,000.00 euros.

The local and supra-local social welfare authorities are responsible for granting basic old-age and reduced earning capacity benefits.

Application

In order to receive basic security benefits in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity, you as the person concerned or their legal representative must submit a written application.

You can obtain the application forms from the responsible office; forms and information sheets are also available on the Internet, depending on the services offered by the authority (access via "Forms/Online services" in the right-hand side column or on request from the responsible office).
Submit the completed application form together with the required supporting documents to the competent authority.
You will receive written notification of whether and to what extent the application has been approved.

Examination of incapacity for work

If it needs to be clarified whether there is a permanent full reduction in earning capacity, the competent office will contact the responsible pension insurance institution.