Benefits for education and participation for children, adolescents and young adults Authorisation
The benefits for education and participation were introduced 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, provided that all conditions are met.
2. Personal School Supplies
Pupils will receive a lump sum of 195 euros for school equipment (e.g. school bags, sports equipment and writing, arithmetic and drawing materials) in the calendar year 2024:
- for the 1st half of the school year 130 Euro
- for the 2nd half of the school year 65 Euro
Since 2021, personal school supplies have been adjusted annually at the same percentage as the standard needs.
3. School transport
The cost 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. Learning support
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. Additional expenses for lunch
For each child entitled to benefits, the expenses for communal lunch meals at school, in the day-care centre or in the day-care centre 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 lessons, leisure activities, music lessons and much more. There are currently 15 euros per person per month available for this, which can also be divided into different offers or saved for a larger activity.
Who should I contact?
The responsibility lies with the district or the independent city.
If you are in need of assistance according to SGB II, please contact your local job centre for advice and application.
Responsible authorities
Bundesagentur für Arbeit
Requirements
Young people are eligible if they, or their families, receive one of the following benefits:
- Citizens' Allowance (SGB II)
- Housing allowance and child allowance (§ 6b BKGG)
- Social assistance (SGB XII – help 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 are unable to cover the costs of education and participation themselves, have the option of having their individual entitlement to education and participation benefits examined. 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 subsidised up to the age of 18.
Applications / forms
You can obtain the relevant forms from the office responsible for you.
Which documents are required?
Documents may be required. Please contact the competent authority.
What are the fees?
There are no fees.
Process flow
The application for BuT can be submitted informally.
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.
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 make sense for the individual child.
Schools are particularly in demand when it comes to tutoring: only when they confirm that a pupil does not achieve the learning objective can parents apply for tutoring from the education package.
