Participation in working life; applying for benefits

If you need support in finding training or a job or securing your training or job due to your (impending) disability(ies), you can receive support in the form of funding or special assistance.

You can apply for benefits for participation in working life if, due to your (impending) disability(ies), you need support in finding training or work or securing your training or job because

• your prospects of participating in working life or participating in working life again are significantly reduced not only temporarily due to the nature or severity of the (impending) disability(ies) or
• you are threatened with a disability with the same occupational consequences.

If you are eligible for support, the general benefits provided by the Employment Agency are available to you first:

• Placement budget
• Measures for activation and professional integration
• Vocational preparation training
• Vocational training in external facilities (BaE)
• Assisted training (AsA)
• Assistance during training
• Vocational further training support
• Start-up grant

If the general benefits are not sufficient to cover your support needs, you can receive the following special or supplementary support:

• rehabilitation-specific pre-vocational training measures
• Basic training required due to disability
• rehabilitation-specific training measures
• Rehabilitation-specific further training measures
• Individual in-company qualification within the framework of supported employment
• Entry procedures and vocational training in workshops for people with disabilities or with other service providers
• Budget for training
• Placement support or vocational guidance through integration services
• Individual support such as technical work aids, aids, work assistance
• Other assistance, participation support

What is suitable for you depends, among other things, on

• which of the respective services is best suited to you and your individual situation in order to
  • improve your chances of successfully finding vocational training or a job, or
  • secure your existing training or employment relationship,
• what personal inclinations you have and how you can use them in your professional life,
• what jobs you would like to do and can do,
• how the training and employment market is currently developing and
• whether you meet the respective eligibility requirements.

An application for benefits for participation is required before you can claim the benefits. You can submit this to your advisor at the relevant employment agency or to your placement officer at the Jobcenter. Once the complete application documents have been received, your application will be reviewed. We will then discuss the next steps with you and select the appropriate support options for your situation. We will take your abilities, interests and aptitudes into account.

After vocational rehabilitation, we will also help you to find a suitable training place or a suitable job. Our aim is to enable you to participate in working life on a permanent basis. Your health impairment or (impending) disability should have as little impact as possible on your training or work.

The following general requirements must be met before you can receive benefits for participation in working life from the Employment Agency:

• You have an (impending) disability.
• The Federal Employment Agency is your responsible rehabilitation provider.
• Your prospects of participating in working life or participating in working life again are significantly reduced, and not just temporarily, due to the nature or severity of your disability.
  • Or: You are threatened with a disability with the same occupational consequences.
• You must contact your employment agency for support or reimbursement of costs before expenses are incurred.

In addition, you may have to fulfill further requirements for the eligible grant(s).

• Appeal to the employment agency that issued the decision. Further information on how to lodge an appeal can be found in the respective decision.

To apply for benefits for participation in working life, you must contact your local employment agency or job center:

• Make an appointment with your responsible advisor at the employment agency or with your placement officer at the job center. Alternatively, this can also be the Vocational Rehabilitation and Participation team at the relevant employment agency.
• If you do not yet have a personal contact person, please make an appointment by calling the free service number.
• If it is determined during the consultation that you are eligible for benefits for participation in working life, the next steps will be discussed with you and the application will be made available either by printout or online. Your advisor will also discuss with you the necessary documents that you need to add to the application.
• You submit the application and any necessary accompanying documents.
• The employment agency will check whether it is responsible for the benefits for participation in working life or another rehabilitation provider. If this is the case, the application will be forwarded.
• The employment agency will also check whether you are eligible for further participation benefits and will involve the relevant rehabilitation provider.
• The responsible rehabilitation provider will discuss the next steps with you and work with you to determine your individual rehabilitation needs. If necessary, this will be done with the involvement of other rehabilitation providers.
• For this purpose, existing documents relating to your (impending) health impairments will be evaluated and, if necessary, other specialist services will be involved.
• Depending on your specific rehabilitation needs, we will then decide together with you which specific service or support is suitable for you.

Processing usually takes a few weeks.

There are no costs for the application, the processing of the application or the advice and mediation.

• Required Documents

  Please discuss with your advisor at the employment agency or your mediator at the job center which documents you need to include with your application for participation benefits.