Apply for medical treatment from the Social Compensation for Relatives and Close Relatives of Victims

Relatives and close relatives of injured persons who have a degree of injury of 50 or higher, as well as surviving dependants, can receive health treatment benefits for non-injury-related consequences. You can find out more here.

Relatives (spouses as well as children and parents of injured parties) and close relatives of injured parties (siblings and persons living in a marriage-like relationship with injured parties) can receive the following benefits if the first injured party has a degree of injury of 50 or higher. The benefit is granted if you have no other insurance cover in the event of illness (e.g. lack of health insurance) or can no longer maintain it due to the consequences of the injury and the denial of benefits would represent an unreasonable burden.

The degree of the consequences of the injury is assessed by medical experts.

Surviving dependants (widows, widowers, orphans, parents and dependants) can receive the benefits listed below if they have no other insurance cover in the event of illness (e.g. lack of health insurance) or can no longer maintain it due to the consequences of the injury and the denial of benefits would constitute an unreasonable burden.

The following benefits may be considered:

• Pregnancy and maternity benefits
• Benefits for the prevention of illnesses and their aggravation as well as for contraception, sterilization and abortion
• Benefits for the assessment of health risks and early detection of illnesses
• Benefits for the treatment of an illness
• Personal budget benefits.

Please note that your social compensation provider decides whether and to what extent you 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:

• For family members and close relatives:
  Medical evidence of the consequences of the injury
• Proof that
  • the health insurance does not cover the necessary benefits or
  • there is no insurance cover or
  • insurance cover can no longer be paid due to the consequences of the injury

• You are a relative or close relative of a person who has suffered a health impairment in Germany or, under certain conditions, abroad (§ 15 SGB XIV) due to a harmful event and has received a GdS of 50 or higher for the health consequences, or
• You are a surviving dependant of a person who died in Germany or, under certain conditions, abroad (§ 15 SGB XIV) as a result of a harmful event.
• You have no other insurance cover in the event of illness or can no longer maintain it due to the consequences of the injury.
• The denial of benefits would represent an unreasonable burden.

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 medical treatment for family members, close relatives and surviving dependants of injured persons 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 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.
• 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.

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.