Applying for social compensation benefits as a relative, surviving dependant or close relative

As relatives, surviving dependants and loved ones of a person who has suffered health problems, you can receive rapid assistance. Rapid assistance includes therapeutic support and care/counseling in trauma outpatient clinics.

As a relative, survivor or loved one of a person who has suffered health problems as a result of certain events, you can receive rapid assistance (counseling and support services in a trauma outpatient clinic) as well as special psychotherapeutic services.

Surviving dependants can also receive benefits for participation in working life, compensation payments to surviving dependants, benefits for living expenses and benefits to support training.

Relatives are spouses, children and parents of the injured person. Close relatives include siblings and persons in a cohabiting relationship. Surviving dependants are widows and widowers, orphans, parents and dependants.

Coordination takes place with the relevant authority, which will inform you which benefits you may be eligible for.

Your social compensation provider will decide whether and to what extent you will receive support.

The Hessian Offices for Care and Social Affairs (HÄVS) in Darmstadt, Frankfurt am Main, Fulda, Gießen, Kassel and Wiesbaden are responsible for this in the state of Hesse.
You can find the HAVS responsible for your place of residence under the following link:

• You are a relative, surviving dependant or close relative of a person who has suffered damage to health in Germany or, under certain conditions, abroad (§ 15 SGB XIV) as a result of an injurious event.
• They can prove the direct or substantial connection between the damaging event and the damage to health or death of the first injured party.
• As a family member, surviving dependant or close relative, you yourself are physically or emotionally burdened as a result of the health impairment suffered by the first injured party.

Appeal: An appeal can be lodged against a decision within one month of its notification. Further information on the procedure and the competent authority to which you can lodge an appeal can be found in the notification of your application. The appeal can be submitted in writing and electronically.

Submit the completed application for social compensation benefits for dependants, surviving dependants and close relatives together with all the necessary documents to the competent authority (social compensation body). The authority will examine your application and decide on the granting of the benefit and its scope. You will receive a notification of the decision and, if applicable, information about the benefits granted as well as other necessary documents.

You can apply for social compensation benefits online or in writing.

• If necessary, you can make an appointment with your contact person at the pension authority or at your responsible office.
• We will then discuss with you whether you are entitled to social compensation benefits and what support services can be offered.
• If necessary, the case management team can discuss the further procedure and possible entitlements to benefits with you that go beyond the general duty to provide information and advice.
• If you are entitled to social compensation benefits, your contact person will discuss the next steps with you.
• The contact person will provide you with the relevant documents. If necessary, complete the documents, enclose the required evidence or supporting documents and send the documents back to your contact person.
• Your claims will be determined ex officio on the basis of the documents. The authority will inform you of the result in the form of a decision, which is usually sent to you by letter.
• If entitlements to benefits have been determined, you will receive an approval notice. If no entitlements are determined, you will receive a rejection notice.
• However, you also have the option of submitting the application online. To do this, you must complete the online application and upload the necessary supporting documents.
• The eligible costs and approved cash benefits will be transferred to the account you have specified.

There is no deadline.

The prerequisite for processing is that all mandatory information has been provided. The processing time varies depending on the competent authority and the individual case. It is not possible to give an exact time and it depends on the complexity of the individual case.

The application is free of charge.