Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity

You can receive financial help through Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity.

This benefit helps you to finance your living expenses and covers the social and cultural minimum subsistence level. It fulfills the same function as Cost-of-living assistance, but is aimed at older people of retirement age or people who are permanently fully disabled after the age of 18.

You are entitled to this social benefit if you are unable to pay for your living expenses from your own income or assets and need help. Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity, like Cost-of-living assistance, is intended to cover the social and cultural minimum subsistence level, but is only intended for certain groups of people.

This benefit is right for you if:

The scope of the documents required, especially for proof of income and assets, depends on the individual case. Your local authority may require further documents, for example current bank statements, divorce decrees, contracts for the transfer of assets or maintenance titles.

If you want to receive Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity, you will usually need the following documents:

• valid ID card or passport, confirmation of registration if applicable
• Proof of permanent full reduction in earning capacity
• Proof of income, for example pension, sickness benefit, Child benefit, maintenance payments or advance maintenance payments
• Proof of assets, for example, bank statements and/or savings
• Rental agreement and subsequent amendments, in particular with regard to the rent amount
• Proof of expenses, in addition to the rent amount and rent payment, in particular advance payments and statements for ancillary costs and heating costs, documents on insurance contributions
• Proof of health and long-term care insurance. Details of health insurance and insurance status or contract for private health and long-term care insurance

Your competent authority will tell you by when you have to submit the documents.

If you have good reasons for not being able to meet this deadline, you must apply for an extension. If you do not meet the deadline and do not apply for an extension, it is possible that the social welfare office will not pay the benefit.

The duration of processing depends on the individual case.

You will receive a written notification and all important information from your responsible office.

The application for Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity is free of charge.