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Which place to enter?

The location is used to determine the responsible office for the selected administrative service. In most cases you can enter your place of residence to find the competent authority. However, there are also cases in which a different location must be specified. Here are some examples:

Birth certificateYou want to get married and need a birth certificate. You live in Hanover, but you were born in Celle. You must therefore state your place of birth, i.e. Celle.

Business registrationYou would like to register a business in Braunschweig. Your place of residence is Hanover. You must therefore state the location of your future business, i.e. Braunschweig.

Apply for a building permitYou would like to build a house in Wunstorf and therefore apply for a building permit. Her place of residence is currently Hanover. You must indicate the place where the house is to be built. In this case it is Wunstorf.

Applying for social assistance for minors in foster care

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Minor children who live in another family (foster family or with relatives) can receive benefits to secure their livelihood in accordance with SGB XII if the income and assets of the child or foster family are not sufficient for the necessary livelihood of the foster child.

The scope of benefits under SGB XII depends, among other things, on the individual needs of the foster child. The needs generally correspond to the actual costs of accommodating the foster child, provided these are reasonable. These include, among other things, costs for

- food,

- clothing,

- physical and health care,

- accommodation,

- heating,

- household energy (electricity),

- school supplies,

- pocket money and

- leisure activities.

Because it is very time-consuming to determine the needs of each foster child individually, many social welfare offices use the lump sums of the youth welfare services. These amounts can vary depending on the federal state.

In exceptional cases, needs can also be calculated on the basis of the "normal" regulations for assistance with living expenses (applicable standard flat-rate needs, any additional needs, actual costs for accommodation and heating as well as school requirements).

Claims for benefits can also be made by the caregiver.

It is generally assumed that the foster family provides for the living expenses of the foster child, insofar as this can be expected based on the income and assets of the foster carers (so-called "household community"). Therefore, the income and assets of the entire household must be considered. This includes, for example

  • Earned income,
  • maintenance payments and
  • pension income.

Child benefit paid for minors and any maintenance payments are due to the child to cover their needs.

Certain assets are not considered to be protected assets, for example

  • Small amounts of cash (financial assets per adult: EUR 10,000, per child: EUR 500) or
  • an appropriate house property.

These are not included in the calculation of benefits.

There are also allowances on certain incomes. Not all available income and assets have to be used up before you receive social assistance.

Benefits for past periods are generally not paid.

Requirements

Prerequisites:

  • The child has not yet reached the age of 15 (exceptions are possible)
  • Placement outside the parental household (living with relatives or in a foster family)
  • No entitlement to educational assistance from the youth welfare office (and therefore no entitlement to economic youth welfare)
  • Insufficient income and assets of the child
  • No (sufficient) maintenance claims of the foster child against other persons (e.g. against the biological parents)
  • No sufficient claims of the foster child or the foster carer for other benefits (e.g. child supplement)

The foster family's income and assets are also not sufficient to ensure the foster child's livelihood

Applications / forms

Forms available: Yes

Written form required: No

Informal application possible: Yes

Personal appearance necessary: No

Process flow

Approval for minors in kinship care can be applied for at the social welfare office. However, it must also be granted without an application if the social welfare agency (e.g. district or independent city) or the agencies commissioned by it learn that a person is in need of assistance or in an emergency situation and meets the requirements for granting assistance.

You can report a need for assistance with living expenses online via the social platform, for example, or in writing.

  • The decision depends on the income and financial circumstances, for which a corresponding form may also need to be submitted.
  • Submit all the necessary documents together with the form.
  • The social welfare office will decide on your needs.
  • The social welfare office must decide on your application and inform you of the result. This is done by means of a decision, which is usually sent to you by letter.
  • If your need has been determined, you will receive an approval notice, if it has not been determined, you will receive a rejection notice.
  • In both cases, the notification must contain the reasons for the decision as well as information on the possibility of lodging an appeal. It must also state the deadline within which you can lodge an appeal.
  • The approval notice must also state the amount of the benefit to be paid and the start date of the payment. From the date stated, the social welfare office will transfer the money to your account at the beginning of the month. You can also specify a third party account for the transfer.

Please note: You are obliged to inform the social welfare office immediately of any changes to your income and financial circumstances.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

There is no deadline.

Processing duration

Note for further information on the processing time: The processing time depends on the individual case. It is a maximum of six months from the date on which all documents are complete.

What else should I know?

There are no indications or special features.

Legal basis

  • §§ Sections 27 - 40 of the Twelfth Social Code (SGB XII)
  • §§ Sections 82 - 96 of the Twelfth Social Code (SGB XII)
  • Ordinance on the implementation of § 82
  • Ordinance on the implementation of § 90

Source: Serviceportal Niedersachsen (Portalverbund des Bundes und der Länder)

Further Links

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Single points of contact of the state of Lower Saxony, Single points of contact of the countries of Europe, advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families.
Access information on the single point of contact for the state of Lower Saxonyvisit Website Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEsVisit advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families