Services for education and participation among children, adolescents and young adults Provision
The benefits for education and participation were introduced in order to give children and young people from financially weak families the opportunity to take advantage of learning and leisure activities and thus open up better educational and development opportunities for them.
The education and participation package includes the following services:
1. Excursions and multi-day school trips
The costs for one-day excursions and multi-day trips to schools and day-care centres will be covered in the actual amount with the exception of pocket money if all conditions are met.
2. Personal school supplies
Pupils will receive a lump sum of 174 euros in the calendar year 2023 for school equipment (e.g. school bags, sports equipment and writing, arithmetic and drawing materials):
- for the 1st half of the school year 116 euros
- for the 2nd half of the school year 58 euros
Since 2021, personal school supplies have been adjusted annually by the same percentage as standard needs.
3. School transport
The costs of transporting pupils to the nearest school can be covered free of charge under certain conditions. The prerequisite is that the transport to the next school is necessary and that the costs are not covered by another party.
4. Promoting learning
Pupils receive learning support insofar as it complements, is suitable and additionally necessary to achieve the essential learning objectives. A confirmation from the teacher is required as proof.
5. Spending extra money on lunch
For each child entitled to benefits, the expenses for communal lunches at school, in the day care centre or in day care for children are paid.
6. Participation in social and cultural life
Subsidies are provided for activities that promote leisure activities for children and young people in the community - club memberships, swimming courses, leisure activities, music lessons and much more. There are currently 15 euros per person available per month for this purpose, which can also be divided between different offers or saved for a larger activity.
Process flow
The application for BuT can be made informally.
Who should I contact?
The responsibility lies with the district or the independent city.
If you are in need of assistance under SGB II, please contact your local job centre for advice and application.
Requirements
Young people are eligible if they, or their families, receive one of the following benefits:
- Citizen's allowance (SGB II)
- Housing allowance and child allowance (§ 6b BKGG)
- Social welfare (SGB XII – assistance for subsistence, basic security)
- Asylum seeker benefits (§§ 2 or 3 AsylbLG)
- Low-income families
Those who do not receive any of the above-mentioned benefits, but cannot cover the costs of education and participation themselves, have the opportunity to have their individual entitlement to education and participation benefits checked. The entitlement to benefits applies to children and young people up to the age of 25. Benefits for participation in social and cultural life in the community are subsidized up to the age of 18.
Which documents are required?
Documents may be required. Please contact the competent authority.
What are the fees?
There are no fees.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
Entitlements to benefits under the Education and Participation Package under the Federal Child Benefit Act (for families with child allowance or housing benefit) expire 12 months after the end of the calendar month in which they arose.
Legal basis
§ 19 para. 2 in conjunction with § 28 para. 1 of the Social Code - Second Book (SGB II)
§§ 34a (1) and 34 (1) of the Social Code - Twelfth Book (SGB XII)
Applications / forms
You can obtain the relevant forms from the office responsible for you.
What else should I know?
Schools and day-care centres should also contact the relevant authorities if they want to participate in the education package.
Teachers and educators play an important role in the education and participation package: they know the strengths and weaknesses of the pupils particularly well and can give parents tips on which offers are useful for the individual child.
Schools are particularly in demand when it comes to tutoring: Only when they confirm that a student is not achieving the learning goal can parents apply for tutoring from the education package.
Technically approved by
Lower Saxony Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour and Equality
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
