Basic provision in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity (social assistance)

The responsibility lies with the district and the district-free city.

The application-dependent benefits of the basic provision in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity are available to persons in need who cannot or cannot afford their necessary livelihood from income and assets and either

• have reached the age limit (§ 41 SGB XII) or
• have reached the age of 18 and are permanently fully reduced in earning capacity according to § 43 Abs. 2 SGB VI or
• have reached the age of 18 and
• go through the entry procedure and vocational training in a workshop for disabled people or other service providers or are in a training relationship for which they receive a budget for training.

Social assistance is a subordinate benefit given to people who cannot help themselves. Claims against third parties – in particular maintenance claims – are generally to be pursued with priority. If they are not fulfilled in time and social assistance must therefore take place, the rights are transferred under certain conditions to the competent authority, which can then claim them in turn.

• Suitable proof of identity (e.g. identity card)
• Proof of expenses: rental contract or household charges (each with year of construction and size of the apartment), receipts for gas / water / electricity bills, insurance (policies and contribution invoices), such as household contents, liability, life, death insurance, possibly contribution invoices for voluntary health and long-term care insurance, etc.
• Income receipts, e.g. pension notice, unemployment benefit II notice, housing benefit notice, pay slip, etc.
• Proof of assets: account statements from the last three months, savings books, fixed-term deposit accounts, securities accounts, land register statements, etc.

The benefits of the basic provision begin with the application. This shall have retroactive effect on the first day of the month of application.

The basic social security benefit is regularly approved for 12 calendar months and then reviewed.

If the personal or financial circumstances change during the approval period, the changes must be communicated immediately. Increased benefits shall be paid at the earliest from the first of the month in which notification of change was given. Therefore, it is important to communicate changes, such as a rent increase, immediately.

Further information can be found on the websites of the German Pension Insurance.

• German Pension Insurance: Questions and answers on basic social security

• Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB) Zwölftes Buch (XII) - Sozialhilfe (SGB XII)

An objection may be lodged against decisions of the competent social assistance institutions within one month of notification.

After completion of the opposition proceedings by means of an objection decision, an action may be brought before the Social Court within one month of notification.