Funding for education for young adults if they are currently receiving basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity

• You are already receiving basic benefits in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity (SGB XII).
• You apply once for education and participation. With this application, you are deemed to have applied for all possible benefits. The only exception is learning support. A separate application must be submitted for this.
• You submit the necessary evidence for benefits for education and participation to your local authority (e.g. social welfare office) or via the online portal.
• The responsible office will check your notification and calculate your requirements.
• The competent authority decides on your needs and informs you of the result.
• If your needs are approved, you will receive a notice of approval; if they are rejected, you will receive a notice of rejection.
• In both cases, the notification will contain the reasons for the decision. It also contains information about the possibility of lodging an appeal against the decision. It will also state the deadline within which you can lodge an appeal.
• If your needs have been approved, the costs will be covered in the form of personalized vouchers, direct payments to the provider or cash benefits, depending on the individual case.

To the local social welfare office

Basic requirements:

• Children, young people and young adults who receive benefits under SGB II, SGB XII or the AsylbLG are entitled to educational benefits under the education and participation package. For this, the children, adolescents and young adults must attend a general or vocational school, a day care center or child day care and have not yet reached the age of 25.

• Exception: For people who receive benefits in accordance with SGB XII and the AsylbLG, their need for educational benefits can also be taken into account beyond the age of 25. There is no age limit for these beneficiaries.

• Children, adolescents and young adults who receivebenefits under SGB II, the third chapter of SGB XII or the AsylbLG are entitled to participation benefits in social and cultural life under the education and participation package if they are under the age of 19.
• Adolescents and young adults who receive benefits under SGB II or the AsylbLG are entitled to education and participation benefits under the education and participation package if they do not have sufficient training allowance as part of their vocational training.

• Please note: This does not apply to people who receive social welfare benefits in accordance with SGB XII. This does not apply to people who receive basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity or assistance with living expenses.

Excursions and one-day and multi-day trips by schools and daycare centers:

• School trips lasting several days must be within the scope of school regulations.

Personal school supplies:

• Payment is made automatically as part of these benefits and you do not need to submit a separate application for this.
• If you receive housing benefit or child supplement, you must apply for the school supplies allowance for the first time.
• A school certificate is required for children under the age of 7 or over the age of 15.

School transportation:

• The actual expenses are not covered by third parties (e.g. the school authority). If only part of the travel costs are covered by a third party, the personal share can be reimbursed.
• The distance between the place of residence and the school/institution is greater than the minimum distance regulated at municipal or state level.
• If state law requirements (nearest school of the chosen course of education) do not play a role in the minimum distance in some cases (regulated, for example, in Section 28 (4) sentence 2 SGB II), a school with a special profile (e.g. a school with a sports or language profile or a Waldorf school) can also be regarded as the "nearest school of the chosen course of education".

Learning support:

• You need an assessment from the school as to whether additional learning support is necessary and suitable to achieve the essential learning objectives set out in accordance with school legislation. If school offers are available, these must be given priority. It does not matter whether promotion is at risk.
• Learning support is offered by a suitable provider or a suitable private person.
• A separate application must be submitted for learning support. Since 1 July 2021, it has been easier for children and young people to receive individual learning support during the pandemic and immediately afterwards as part of the "Catching up after Corona" action program adopted on 5 May 2021. The separate application for the assumption of expenses for learning support until December 31, 2023 is no longer required.

Lunchtime meals:

• Attendance at a school, a daycare center or an after-school care facility.
• Lunch is provided under the responsibility of the school or is agreed in a cooperation agreement between the school and the daycare facility.
• The food is served and eaten communally.

If you receive SGB XII benefits (social assistance such as basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity or assistance with living expenses), you must submit an application if you wish to receive benefits for education and participation (BuT). You will then receive, for example, benefits in kind and services (vouchers), direct payments to service providers and cash benefits.

• In principle, an application is required for the coverage of needs and services such as school trips, school trips lasting several days, school transport or lunchtime meals for pupils. All possible benefits are deemed to have been applied for via this application.
• You do not need to apply for personal school supplies (school allowance). A corresponding proof (usually a school certificate) is sufficient.
• An exception is the application for learning support. A separate application must be submitted for this.
• Notification of receipt of basic security benefits in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity (SGB XII) (as PDF or in writing)
• Depending on the area of support: Invoices, receipts and other evidence (as PDF or in written form)
• If applicable: School certificate (as PDF or in written form)
• If applicable: Power of attorney if the application is made on behalf of a representative (as a PDF or in writing)

• §§ Sections 42 No. 3 in conjunction with 34, 34a and 34b of the German Social Code, Book Twelve - Social Assistance (SGB XII)
• §§ Sections 42 No. 3 in conjunction with 34, 34a and 34b of the German Social Code, Book Twelve - Social Assistance (SGB XII)

Forms available: Yes

Written form required: No

Informal application possible: Yes

Personal appearance necessary: No

Appeal, action for annulment

Further information on how to lodge an appeal can be found in the notification of your application.

Children of recipients of basic income support who are themselves in receipt of "assistance for subsistence (HzL)" benefits must submit a separate "education and participation HzL application" online.

Lower Saxony Ministry for Social Affairs, Labor, Health and Equality