Apply for aid in the event of significant impairment of livelihood as part of social compensation

If you are significantly impaired in your work as a result of necessary outpatient or inpatient treatment for a recognized consequence of injury and are unable to support yourself, you can receive assistance in the form of cash benefits.

If you are significantly impaired in your work as a result of necessary outpatient or inpatient treatment for a recognized consequence of injury and are unable to cover your necessary living expenses independently, you can claim assistance in the form of cash benefits.

If you receive sickness benefit and are unable to cover your living expenses independently, you can receive this benefit as a supplement.

If you are self-employed and do not receive sickness benefit, the benefit is intended to cover your living expenses if you cannot cover them yourself.

The allowance ends at the latest when the entitlement to social compensation sickness benefit ends.

If you are resident or ordinarily resident abroad, you can also receive an allowance in the event of a significant impairment of your livelihood. The prerequisite for this is that you cannot receive an appropriate benefit abroad, nor can this need be covered by existing private or statutory insurance cover and you suffer a disadvantage as a result.

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:

• You have suffered a health impairment in Germany or, under certain conditions, abroad (§ 15 SGB XIV) due to a damaging event.
• Your injury-related outpatient or inpatient treatment led to a considerable impairment of your livelihood.
• You are unable to support yourself independently.

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.

When you apply for social compensation benefits, the social compensation law institution will check whether you are entitled to benefits in the event of a significant impairment of your livelihood. 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.
• 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 that go beyond the general duty to provide information and advice with you.
• 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.