Applying for education and participation benefits for children, adolescents and young adults in receipt of benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act

If you or your child receive asylum seeker benefits, you or your child can receive education and participation benefits. These include support for participation in school, daycare, child daycare and leisure activities as well as tutoring and meals in schools.

You can receive financial support for various activities through the education and participation package. The support is aimed at children, young people and young adults.

The benefits from the education and participation package are granted as part of certain social benefits. Asylum seeker benefits are among these social benefits. If you are entitled to benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, you can apply for financial support from the education and participation package regardless of your age.

The support applies to the following areas:

Up to a maximum of 18 years of age:

• Participation in social and cultural life, for example in a sports club or music school, is supported with up to EUR 15.00 per month.

Up to a maximum of 25 years of age:

• For one-day excursions by schools, day care centers and in child day care, the actual costs are reimbursed.
• The actual costs of excursions lasting several days organized by day-care centres and childminders as well as school trips within the framework of school regulations are covered.
• The provision of personal school supplies is funded annually with two lump sums at the start of each school year. The amount differs between the first and second half of the school year.
• The necessary actual expenses for transportation to the nearest school of the chosen course of education (monthly student tickets) are covered.
• The costs of additional appropriate learning support are covered insofar as they are necessary to achieve the learning objectives defined in accordance with school regulations.
• Expenses for communal lunchtime meals for pupils (if the school is responsible for them) and for children in daycare centers and childminders are paid.

• Giessen Regional Council as the competent authority for the initial reception facility of the State of Hesse
• Districts, independent cities and the special status city of Marburg for municipal accommodation

• You or the children, adolescents or young adults concerned
  • receive asylum seeker benefits,
  • attend a general or vocational school, a day care center or child day care.
• Upper age limit for participation benefits for cultural, sports and leisure activities in the community: 18 years of age
• Excursions:
  • Excursions lasting several days must be within the scope of school regulations.
• Personal school supplies
  • For children under the age of 7 or if the child attends a secondary school after the 10th school year, you must submit a school certificate.
• School transportation
  • The costs are not covered in full by third parties, such as the school authority. If only part of the travel costs are covered by third parties, only the personal contribution can be reimbursed.
  • The distance between your place of residence and your school or institution is greater than the minimum distance stipulated by law.
  • Under certain circumstances, the nearest institution may also have a special focus, for example a sports or language profile, or it may be a Waldorf school.
• Extracurricular learning support
  • The school must confirm that you need additional learning support. If there are school offers, you must use them as a priority. It does not matter whether your promotion is at risk.
  • The learning support is offered by a suitable provider or a suitable private person.
• Communal lunchtime meals
  • You or your child attend a school, a daycare center, a daycare facility or an after-school care center.
  • Lunch is provided by the facility or is agreed in a cooperation agreement with the facility (e.g. between the school and after-school care center).
  • The food is served and eaten communally.

• The legal process for applicants is outlined in the respective decision on the application:
  • Appeal to the authority issuing the decision
  • Legal action before the social court

The implementation of the education package is organized locally in the districts and independent cities. As a general rule, anyone receiving asylum seeker benefits should contact the foreigners authority for benefits from the education and participation package.

There are no costs.: Fee free of charge

You must submit a separate application for school requirements if your child is either still under 7 years old or has already completed the 10th school year but is attending a secondary school. In these cases, a school certificate must be submitted as proof.