Applying for early social compensation benefits as an injured party

In exceptional cases, certain benefits may be provided early, before all eligibility requirements have been met. The final decision will be made at a later date. You can find out more here.

You can claim social compensation benefits in accordance with SGB XIV if your health is impaired as a result of the damaging event.

Before the eligibility requirements have been established, injured persons can receive benefits for medical treatment as well as benefits for participation and special benefits in individual cases. The application only concerns benefits that are not granted by the health insurance fund.

If the result of the initial assessment does not yet allow a final decision to be made on the entitlement or its scope, but the requirements for the approval of individual benefits are likely to be met, a provisional decision can be made on the provision of benefits.

The prerequisite for this is that an application for a provisional decision has been submitted and there is a legitimate interest in the provisional decision. The scope and reason for the provisional decision must be stated in the decision. Once the investigations have been completed, the final decision must be made without delay.

Harmful events can be, for example, an act of (physical and psychological) violence, medical treatment or a vaccination. Compensation helps to compensate for any loss of income and to cover the costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation. Possible beneficiaries may be victims of civilian service, war victims, vaccination victims or victims of violence.

Please note that your social compensation provider will decide whether and to what extent you will receive support.

The responsible office in the state of Hesse depends on the type of benefit granted prematurely.

The Hessian Offices for Care and Social Affairs (HÄVS) in Darmstadt, Frankfurt am Main, Fulda, Gießen, Kassel and Wiesbaden are responsible for health treatment benefits for social compensation.

The office responsible for benefits for participation and special benefits in individual cases is the Landeswohlfahrtsverband (LWV) Hessen.

• You have suffered a health impairment due to a harmful event and can prove the direct or substantial connection.
• An application for a provisional decision has been submitted and there is a legitimate interest in the provisional decision.
• The granting of early benefits is not conditional on the severity or nature of the injury, but depends on the probability of establishing an actual SGB XIV factual situation.
• You either have your domicile or habitual residence in Germany or you have your domicile abroad but have been the victim of a violent crime in Germany.

Appeal: An appeal can be lodged against a decision within one month of its notification. Further information regarding 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 early benefits together with all the necessary documents to the competent authority (social compensation office). The authority will examine your application and decide on the granting of the benefit and its scope. You will receive a decision on the outcome and, if applicable, information on the benefits granted as well as any further evidence required.

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

Further information can be found on the website of your country or your competent authority.