Social assistance; applying for help to overcome particular social difficulties

Persons with special living conditions associated with social difficulties are granted assistance to overcome these difficulties if they are unable to do so on their own.

Persons with special living conditions associated with social difficulties are entitled to help to overcome these difficulties within the framework of social assistance if they are unable to do so on their own. This includes, for example, people without adequate accommodation (homeless people), homeless people, ex-offenders and young people with behavioral disorders who cannot be granted educational assistance under Social Code VIII or integration assistance.

The assistance includes all necessary measures to avert, eliminate or alleviate the difficulties or to prevent them from worsening (e.g. counseling and personal support; obtaining and maintaining a home and a job; securing schooling and vocational training). Cash and non-cash benefits are also eligible.

Personal assistance is granted regardless of income and assets. In the case of cash benefits and benefits in kind , the income limit of Section 85 of the Social Security Code XII applies (basic amount of twice the standard needs level 1 (see "Social assistance; applying for assistance with living expenses" + 70% of the standard needs level 1 for other family members + reasonable accommodation expenses). The income and assets of the person seeking assistance and the dependants are only to be taken into account if this does not jeopardize the success of the assistance.

• When applying, the following documents in particular are required:
  • Identity card or passport (or other documents that can identify the person beyond doubt)
  • If applicable, a statement from the long-term care insurance fund and an expert opinion from the medical service of the health insurance funds
  • Medical documents, if available
  • If applicable, notice from the pension office on the determination of a degree of disability (e.g. severely disabled person's ID card)
  • Proof of health and long-term care insurance
  • Rejection notice from the health or nursing care insurance fund, including justification
  • Proof of income
  • Proof of assets (e.g. for capital-forming insurance (life insurance, building society savings insurance, Riester pension contracts, death benefit insurance, funeral provisions and similar), savings accounts, land, real estate, valuables, motor vehicles)
  • Bank statements
  • Rental agreement, if applicable, letter of rent adjustment
  • Additional documents may be required. The scope of the documents required depends on the specifics of the individual case.

• There are special living conditions (e.g. unsecured economic livelihood, lack of or inadequate housing, violent living conditions, release from prison).
• There are social difficulties of a serious nature that significantly restrict participation in life in the community and clearly exceed the level of general social difficulties.
• The person concerned is unable to overcome the difficulties by his/her own efforts.

An appeal may be lodged against the decision of the competent authority within one month of notification.

Once the objection procedure has been concluded by a notice of objection, an action may be brought before the Social Court within one month of notification.

You can first informally notify the responsible office of your need for assistance.

A fully completed social assistance application can be submitted at a later date.

As the responsible office can only grant assistance from the time it learns of the applicant's need for assistance, the need for assistance should be notified as soon as possible. This notification can be made in writing, by telephone or in person.

After the application has been examined and, if necessary, further opinions have been obtained, the applicant will receive a legally binding decision from the competent authority.

This assistance begins as soon as the competent body or a body commissioned by it becomes aware that the conditions for the benefit are met.

A decision on the application will be made immediately. The processing time depends, among other things, on the completeness of the information and the submission of the evidence required for processing the application.

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