Benefits for education and participation for children, adolescents and young adults Apply for approval if you are currently receiving citizen's allowance

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

When parents receive certain social benefits or have a low income, it is often not easy to offer their children the same leisure or school opportunities as children from families with higher incomes. However, children and young people in need are also entitled to take part in day trips, school trips and shared lunches at school and daycare centers, as well as music, sports and games in clubs and groups. This is where the education and participation benefits of the so-called education and participation package can help. Up to 2.5 million children and young people can benefit from the education package.

The support covers the following areas:

Up to the maximum age of 18:

• Participation in social and cultural life, for example in a sports club or music school, is subsidized with a lump sum of EUR 15.00 per month.

Up to a maximum of 25 years of age:

• Funding for personal school supplies, such as writing, arithmetic and drawing materials, sportswear and school bags. The amount of funding differs between the first half of the school year and the second half of the school year and is adjusted annually.
• Costs for additional appropriate learning support are covered insofar as they are necessary to achieve the learning objectives set out in school regulations.
• The actual costs of one-day excursions by schools, day-care centers and day-care centers are reimbursed.
• The actual costs of excursions lasting several days organized by day-care centers and day-care facilities as well as school trips within the framework of school regulations are covered.
• Allowances are paid for communal lunches for pupils (if the school is responsible for this) and for children in day care centers and child day care.
• The necessary actual expenses for transportation to the nearest school of the chosen course of education (monthly student tickets) will be covered if they are not covered elsewhere.

The implementation of the education package is organized locally in the districts and independent cities and may differ from the procedures described. In principle, however, the following applies: Anyone who receives citizen's allowance usually contacts the job center for benefits from the education package. The same applies to cases of so-called needs triggering. The educational package is also implemented by the districts and independent cities in the job center. You will also receive information there if the education package is administered outside the Jobcenter. The job centers are not responsible for families who receive social assistance, housing benefit, child supplement or benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act. The districts or independent cities (available, for example, at the town hall, the citizens' office or the district administration) will tell you who to contact.

• If applicable, state the child benefit number
• Proof of need, e.g. by means of a notification of need:
  • Child supplement
  • housing benefit
  • Benefits according to the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act
• Invoices, receipts and other evidence, if applicable
• school certificates if required

The responsible office will inform you of any other documents that may be required.

Forms available: No

Written form required: No

Informal application possible: Yes

Personal appearance necessary: No

Online services available: No

• Children and young people up to the age of 25 are eligible to apply,
  • who cannot cover their education and participation needs from their own income and assets or their family's own income and assets (so-called threshold households)
  • who cannot cover their education and participation needs from their own income and assets or their family's own income and assets and who are therefore entitled to
    • Basic security benefits for jobseekers or
    • social assistance
    • Benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act
  • or whose families receive the following benefits:
    • child supplement or
    • housing benefit
• Upper age limit for benefits for participation in culture, sport and leisure: 18 years

The legal process for applicants is outlined in the respective notification of the application.

You receive benefits for education and participation on application.

• If possible, find out in advance from the responsible office how you can apply for the benefits from the education package most easily. The staff will also help you with the application on request.
• Fill in the required forms, sign the application and compile the necessary supporting documents.
  • Note: The application for citizens' allowance, benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act or social assistance also includes benefits for education and participation. This does not include benefits for learning support, which must be applied for separately.
• Send the complete application documents and supporting documents by post to the responsible office or hand them in personally.
• You will receive written notification as to whether your child can take advantage of the services and, if so, which ones.

There are no costs.