Applying for support for re-entry into working life
You can claim benefits for participation in working life if you have health problems that prevent you from exercising your profession. You can
- receive measures or aids that enable you to resume or continue to practise your profession or
- Benefits to change your profession
take advantage of it.
The support you receive depends on your case. It is important that the measure helps you to exercise your or another profession.
You can receive the following support for the exercise of your profession:
- Motor vehicle assistance
You will receive subsidies for the purchase of a car and/or for the disabled equipment of your car:- When purchasing a car, you will receive a subsidy of up to 9,500 EUR.
- Costs for the handicapped accessible conversion of an existing car are completely covered.
- Assumption of costs for travel to and from a training measure
- Assumption of costs for a work assistant
Pension insurance covers the costs of a person who supports you in carrying out your profession. The costs are covered for a maximum of 3 years. If you then have further needs, the Integration Office finances the work assistance.
- Assumption of costs for aids
Includes:- Costs you need to exercise your profession and/or for the journey to your workplace
- Costs of participation in a measure contributing to professional participation
- Costs for technical work aids such as screen readers or software
If you can no longer exercise your profession, you can receive support for taking up activities:
- Start-up grant
If you want to start a business, you will receive a grant. Your self-employed work must match your clinical picture and secure you an income.
- Services in a recognised workshop for disabled people (WfbM)
An activity in a WfbM is considered if the general labour market is closed to you due to the severity of your disability and you can only carry out an appropriate activity within the protected framework of a WfbM.
- Benefits for vocational adaptation, retraining, training, further education or vocational preparation
If you need support from accompanying assistance – such as medical, psychological or social care – this will be taken into account when selecting the facility.
You cannot receive a benefit for participation in working life if you:
- are entitled to a similar benefit from another rehabilitation institution – such as accident insurance – due to an accident at work, an occupational disease or injury caused by third parties.
- are civil servants, soldiers, judges. Please contact your local integration office to find out from whom you can receive benefits.
- are already receiving or have applied for an old-age pension amounting to at least two-thirds of the full pension.
- have permanently retired from working life and, for example, receive a company pension benefit until retirement begins.
- are in pre-trial detention or serving a custodial sentence.
Process flow
You can submit your application online, in person or in writing.
Online application:
- On the website of the German Pension Insurance (DRV) under "Online Services" you will find detailed information on the process.
- If you follow the link "Submit application", you will be guided through the further steps and can select the desired application.
- Alternatively, you can use the online services with registration. For example, you can immediately see which insurance periods have already been recorded. In addition, you save time and do not have to re-enter already known data.
- Complete the application form completely and upload the required documents.
- Submit your application online.
- You will receive a confirmation of delivery.
- The competent pension insurance institution will examine your application.
- You will receive a notification of your application.
Personal application:
- Compile the necessary documents for your application and make an appointment with the DRV.
- When making an appointment online, your personal data and, if possible, your insurance number are required.
- You can select a desired counselling centre and your desired date. Depending on the availability of free dates, you will receive a proposal for a binding consultation appointment.
- In your personal interview, your application will be recorded electronically and forwarded online to the responsible pension insurance provider.
- The competent pension insurance institution will examine your application.
- You will receive a notification of your application.
Written request:
- Go to the DRV website.
- Download the desired application form.
- You can also pick up the form in person at the information and advice centres.
- Fill in the application form, sign it and attach the required documents.
- Send all documents
- by post to your pension insurance institution or
- hand them in at one of the local counselling centres.
- The competent pension insurance institution will examine your application.
- You will receive a notification of your application.
Your application can also be made for you by a person you trust. Please submit a power of attorney to the pension insurance. As long as the power of attorney is valid, the pension insurance applies exclusively to the person authorized by you.
If you give your consent to electronic communication, all correspondence may take place online. Either you use the electronic mailbox under the online services with registration or De-Mail.
Requirements
You can receive benefits for participation in working life from the pension insurance if you
- have been insured under statutory pension insurance for at least 15 years (so-called "waiting period of 15 years") or
- receive a pension due to reduced earning capacity, or
- receive a large widow's or widower's pension due to reduced earning capacity, or
- without these benefits, a pension due to reduced earning capacity would have to be paid by the pension insurance scheme, or
- have immediately previously received a medical benefit for rehabilitation from the pension insurance which alone is not sufficient for the desired rehabilitation success.
Which documents are required?
- Application for participation benefits for insured persons – rehabilitation application
- You should ask your pension insurance provider in advance whether your pension insurance institution requires a report or a medical report.
What are the fees?
There are no costs for you.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
You do not have to observe any deadlines and can apply for rehabilitation at any time.
Processing duration
Processing takes up to 1 month.
Applications / forms
Forms available: Yes
Written form required: Yes
Informal application possible: No
Personal appearance required: No
Online services available: Yes
Appeal
- Contradiction. Detailed information can be found in the notification of your rehabilitation application.
- Action before the Social Court. Detailed information can be found in the notice of opposition.
Technically approved by
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS)
Professionally released on
04.10.2022
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
