Apply for funding for the education and participation of children and young adults if you are currently receiving housing benefit
You can receive financial support for various activities through the education and participation package. The support is aimed at children, young people and young adults.
The benefits from the education and participation package are granted as part of certain social benefits. Housing benefit is one of these social benefits. If you are entitled to housing benefit, you can apply for financial support from the education and participation package.
The support applies to the following areas:
Up to a maximum of 18 years of age:
- Participation in social and cultural life, for example in a sports club or music school, is subsidized with up to EUR 15.00 per month.
Up to a maximum of 25 years of age:
- For one-day excursions by schools, day care centers and in child day care, the actual costs are reimbursed.
- The actual costs of excursions lasting several days organized by day-care centres and childminders as well as school trips within the framework of school regulations are covered.
- The provision of personal school supplies is funded annually with two lump sums at the start of each school year. The amount differs between the first and second half of the school year.
- The necessary actual expenses for transportation to the nearest school of the chosen course of education (monthly school tickets) are covered.
- The costs of additional appropriate learning support are covered insofar as they are necessary to achieve the learning objectives defined in accordance with school regulations.
- Expenses for communal lunchtime meals for pupils (if the school is responsible for them) and for children in daycare centers and childminders are paid.
You specify your need for benefits for education and participation at your local authority (usually social welfare office or housing benefit office) or via the online portal.
You submit the necessary evidence for benefits for education and participation to your local authority (usually the social welfare office or housing benefit office) or via the online portal.
Usually to the social welfare office or the housing benefit office
- You or the children, adolescents or young adults concerned:
- receive housing benefit
- attend a general or vocational school, a day care facility or day care for children
- Upper age limit for participation benefits for cultural, sports and leisure activities in the community: 18 years of age
- Upper age limit for educational benefits: 25 years
- Even if you are between 14 and 27 years old, receive housing benefit and are not paid enough as part of your vocational training, you are entitled to education and participation benefits.
- Excursions:
- Excursions lasting several days must be within the scope of school regulations.
- Personal school supplies
- For children under the age of 7 or if the child attends a secondary school after the 10th school year, you must submit a school certificate.
- School transport
- The costs are not covered in full by third parties, such as the school authorities. If only part of the travel costs are covered by third parties, only the personal contribution can be reimbursed.
- The distance between your place of residence and your school or institution is greater than the applicable minimum distance.
- Under certain circumstances, the nearest institution may also have a special focus, for example a sports or language profile, or it may be a Waldorf school.
- Extracurricular learning support
- The school must confirm that you need additional learning support. If there are school offers, you must use them as a priority. It does not matter whether your promotion is at risk.
- The learning support is offered by a suitable provider or a suitable private person.
- Communal lunchtime meals
- You or your child attend a school, a daycare center, a daycare facility or an after-school care center.
- Lunch is provided by the facility or is agreed in a cooperation agreement with the facility (e.g. between the school and after-school care center).
- The food is served and eaten communally.
Emission: free of chargeThere are no costs.
Period of Validity: 0 - 12 Months
Processing Time: 0 - 3 Months
- Objection
- Appeal to the administrative court
Further information on how to lodge an appeal can be found in the notification of your application.
You must submit a separate application for school requirements if your child is either still under 7 years old or has already completed the 10th school year but is attending a secondary school. In these cases, a school certificate must be submitted as proof.
Lower Saxony Ministry for Social Affairs, Labor, Health and Equality
