Applying for reimbursement of care costs during a stay in a trauma outpatient clinic

If you have suffered damage to your health as a result of certain events and have been treated in a trauma outpatient clinic, you can receive reimbursement of your care costs. The damage to your health may be the result of an act of violence.

Trauma outpatient clinics offer victims of physical, psychological and sexual violence in particular quick, early and unbureaucratic advice and psychological help to help them cope with the consequences of the crime.

In the case of treatment in a trauma outpatient clinic, the necessary care costs for family members who need care or support can be covered.

The need for an accompanying person is particularly given in the case of a person who is in possession of a valid severely disabled person's pass with the mark H (helplessness), aG (exceptional walking disability) or BI (blindness). This is also the case if a mental illness requires assistance. Care costs are necessary for children or family members who require care or assistance and whose care or assistance cannot be provided in any other way (e.g. by other family members).

Please note that your social security 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:

If necessary, you must provide evidence:

• Details of the persons to be cared for
• Details of the duration/period of treatment in the trauma outpatient clinic
• Amount of the costs incurred

• You have suffered a health impairment in Germany due to a damaging event and can prove the direct or substantial connection.
• The health impairment has resulted in physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments that continue to exist
• You have your domicile or habitual residence in Germany and
• you were temporarily abroad at the time of the offense and suffered a damaging event there or
• You are temporarily resident abroad but have suffered a harmful event in Germany or
• You are permanently resident abroad but have suffered a harmful event in Germany
• Services can only be provided in trauma clinics with which the relevant administrative authorities have concluded a contract
• The addresses can be obtained from the relevant authority

When you apply for social compensation benefits, the social compensation law institution will check whether you are entitled to reimbursement of care costs for services in a trauma outpatient clinic. You will receive an approval of the decision and, if applicable, information about the benefits granted as well as other necessary evidence.

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.
• They 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 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.

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 frame and it depends on the complexity of the individual case.

If you submit the application for social compensation for treatment in a trauma outpatient clinic as rapid assistance, the processing time is within two weeks according to the statutory deadline.

The application is free of charge.

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