Apply for assistance with living expenses

Your disposable family income is not sufficient to cover the necessary living expenses? Do you have no realizable assets and are not able to work? Then you may be entitled to assistance with living expenses. You can apply for this online.

Notes:

• If you are able to work, you are entitled to  citizen's allowance (opens in a new tab) under certain conditions.
• If you are at least 18 years old and permanently fully incapacitated for work or if you have reached the standard retirement age, you may be entitled to  basic income support in old age or in the event of reduced earning capacity.

The benefits for assistance with living expenses include

• the flat-rate standard rate to ensure subsistence, for example for food, clothing, personal hygiene. The amount depends on the number of people living in the household and their age.
• Benefits for additional needs for living expenses, for example for expectant mothers from the 13th week of pregnancy, single parents, disabled people, nutrition-related additional needs and for a decentralized hot water supply.
• Benefits for accommodation and heating, insofar as the costs are reasonable, if necessary also relocation costs and rent deposits.
• Other one-off benefits in kind or cash benefits or loans, e.g. initial equipment for newborns, first home furnishings.
• Education and participation benefits for children and young people, e.g. school trips, personal school supplies, school travel tickets, school lunches, club fees, learning support.
• Contributions to health and long-term care insurance

The flat-rate standard rate is graduated according to age groups and living arrangements and has been as follows since January 1, 2024

Level 1: €563.00 for each adult person living in an apartment
Level 2: €506.00 for each adult living in an apartment with a spouse or partner or in a special form of accommodation for disabled people
Level 3: €451.00 for each adult living in an institution
Level 4: €471.00 for young people from the age of 15 to the age of 18
Level 5: €390.00 for children from the age of 7 to the age of 14
Level 6: € 357.00 for children up to the age of 6

The Office for Social Affairs and Participation takes into account the entire family income to determine the need for assistance. It takes into account, for example

• Maintenance payments
• Pension income
• child benefit
• Certain assets are regarded as protected assets, for example small amounts of cash or a reasonable house. These are not included in the calculation of benefits.

If the qualifying income is less than the assessed need, the Office for Social Affairs and Participation will pay the difference.

You can also receive one-off benefits if you are able to cover your current living expenses but are unable to finance a one-off need.

Please note: As a rule, you will not receive benefits for past periods.