Broadcasting fee in the private sector, exemption

If you receive state social benefits, you can be exempted from the broadcasting fee. The same applies to deafblind people and recipients of assistance for the blind.

ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio

Contribution Service HR
Bertramstraße 8
60320 Frankfurt am Main

Phone: 01806 999 555 55*
Fax: 01806 999 555 05*
* (20 cents per call from German landlines and mobile phones)

• in the event of receipt of social benefits
  • Proof of receipt of one of the above-mentioned social benefits in the original (notice of approval or certificate from the social service provider)
• in case of deafblindness:
  • current medical certificate of deafblindness in the original or
  • Severely disabled person's pass with the marks "Bl" and "Gl" or
  • Certificate from the pension office on the degree of hearing and visual impairment
• when receiving assistance for the blind
  • Current notice of approval or certificate from the authority on the receipt of benefits in accordance with § 72 Twelfth Book of the Social Code (SGB XII) or §27d Federal Supply Act (BVG)
• in cases of hardship
  • the rejection notice of the social service provider in the event of a slight excess of the income limit as a special case of hardship
• if necessary, further evidence

A copy of the requirements for exemption must be proven by the corresponding confirmation from the authority or the service provider; upon request, the original confirmation from the authority or the service provider or the notification must be submitted in the original or in a certified copy. In the case of deaf-blind people and recipients of assistance for the blind in accordance with § 72 of the Twelfth Book of the Social Security Code, a medical certificate is sufficient.

If you send in the original approval notice, please mark it with the word "original". Otherwise, you may not get it back, as all incoming mail will be destroyed after digital archiving.
You will not receive the certificate from the authority or the service provider back. You do not have to mark the original severely disabled person's pass. You will receive this back unsolicited.

• They receive state social benefits, such as:
  • Unemployment benefit II
  • Welfare
  • BAföG
  • Basic income support
• or you are deafblind
• or receive help for the blind.

Hints:

You can apply for an exemption from the broadcasting fee from the point of view of a special case of hardship if you do not receive any social benefits because your income exceeds the respective need limit by less than 17.50 euros.
If you are exempt from the obligation to pay contributions, the exemption within the home also extends to your wife or husband. The same applies to your registered partner. The exemption also extends to children of the applicant, spouse or registered partner up to the age of 25 living in the dwelling, as well as to those householders whose income and assets have been taken into account when granting a social benefit. (New regulation in the 19th RÄStV)

Further information can be found on the pages of the contribution service (PDF)

You must apply in writing to the competent authority for exemption from the broadcasting fee. To do this, use the prescribed form.
You get it

• in the case of cities,
• in the case of municipalities,
• to the competent authorities, and
• on the Internet.

You can fill out the Internet form online. Print it out at the end of the input process and sign it. Enclose the required evidence and send your documents by post to the competent authority.

You will receive the exemption from the first of the month specified in the notice of approval as the start of benefits, but no earlier than three years before the month in which the application for exemption from broadcasting fees is submitted. You should therefore submit the application for exemption as soon as possible with the approval notice issued. (New regulation in the 19th RÄStV)

The exemption shall be granted at the earliest at the beginning of the month following the submission of the application.

Application procedure and examination: none

The broadcasting fee replaced the broadcasting fee on 01.01.2013.