Applying for reimbursement of travel expenses as part of medical treatment

Injured parties can receive reimbursement of travel/travel costs for medical treatment. You can find out more here.

Injured parties whose entitlement to medical treatment has been established will receive medical treatment benefits from January 1, 2024.

Entitled persons are entitled to reimbursement of travel costs and other travel expenses incurred in connection with medical treatment benefits. Entitled persons will be reimbursed for the necessary travel costs, including the transportation of luggage and the costs of meals and accommodation to a reasonable extent for themselves, a necessary companion and for children whose transportation is necessary because their care cannot otherwise be guaranteed. There is no entitlement to reimbursement of travel costs if inpatient treatment is discontinued without compelling reason.

If the treatment lasts longer than eight weeks, the necessary travel costs for two trips home with the family or two trips by a family member to the beneficiary's place of residence per month can also be covered.

Please note that 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:

If necessary, you must provide evidence:

• Proof of outpatient or inpatient medical treatment required as a result of the injury
• Proof of the costs incurred (distance in km, tickets, etc.)
• Proof of the need for an escort, if applicable
  • Medical certificate if accompaniment is necessary due to psychological consequences of the injury
  • Severely disabled person's pass with aG or H mark

• As the injured party, you have suffered a health impairment in Germany or, under certain conditions, abroad (§ 15 SGB XIV) due to a damaging event.
• The health impairment has resulted in physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments that are already recognized as consequences of injury with a degree of damage.
• You have incurred travel or other travel costs in connection with medical treatment for the recognized consequences of the injury

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.

When you apply for social compensation benefits, the social compensation law institution will check whether you are entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses for medical treatment. You will receive a notification of the decision and, if applicable, information on 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.
• 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.