Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity

Are you of retirement age, but your money is not enough to cover your living expenses? Or are you younger but unable to work permanently for health reasons? Then you can apply for Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity.

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Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity also includes help with special financial burdens. This may be the case if you need initial equipment for your own home.

The most important facts in brief

Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity is available to you if you are unable to pay for your living expenses from your own income or assets and need help. The benefit is financial support intended to cover the social and cultural minimum subsistence level. It is therefore a social assistance benefit and fulfills the same function as Cost-of-living assistance, but for a different group of people.

Your competent authority is the local social assistance provider or the local social welfare office. To receive basic income support, you must submit an application to the social welfare office or the social welfare agency in your city or municipality. It is usually approved for a period of 12 months.

If you would like to apply for the benefit for yourself, you can complete the online application for Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity here.

In addition to Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity, there is also the so-called "Basic income support for jobseekers" (also known as Citizen's benefit). This benefit is intended for people who are able to work and have not yet reached the standard retirement age (pensionable age).

Who is entitled?

You are entitled to this benefit if

you have reached the the age limit for the pensionhas been exceeded
or
you are at least 18 years old and are permanently fully incapacitated for work for health reasons or due to a disability, i.e. you are unable to work

You can also receive the benefit for the period in which you work in a workshop for disabled people, undergo the entry procedure and vocational training with another service provider or are permanently employed in the work area.

You are not entitled to basic income support if

You are not permanently resident in Germany.
You have neither German citizenship nor the necessary right of residence.
You have applied for benefits for asylum seekers in Germany.
You have caused your emergency situation in the last ten years intentionally or through gross negligence, for example by giving away or carelessly losing assets.
You are able to work and are therefore entitled to B citizen's benefit.
You are only temporarily incapacitated for work and are entitled to Cost-of-living assistance.

The most important topics relating to Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity

Basic security and family

Basic security and housing

Will the costs for my rented apartment be covered?

Yes. In addition to the flat-rate monthly standard requirement, the social welfare office also pays the rent, ancillary costs and heating costs if the costs and the living space are reasonable. Electricity must be paid from the money from the standard needs.

The cost of the rent must be appropriate to the size of the apartment and the number of people living in it. Your home must not be too large or too expensive. If the social welfare office finds the cost of your rented apartment too high and therefore not reasonable, you do not have to move to a cheaper apartment immediately. You have 6 months to do so. Only then will the payments be reduced.

When is an apartment considered "reasonable"?

Whether your rent is reasonable depends primarily on the rent index in your place of residence. If you live in a condominium or your own home, the costs of maintaining the property apply. If you live in a retirement or nursing home, the warm rent of an average single-person household in your place of residence is taken into account.

This overview shows guideline values for which apartment sizes are generally considered appropriate:

45-50 m2 for 1 person
60 m2 or 2 rooms for 2 people
75 m2 or 3 rooms for 3 people
85-90 m2 or 4 rooms for 4 people
a house of your own (owner-occupied) up to 130 m2
a condominium (owner-occupied) up to 120 m2

Additional space is granted for wheelchair use and the need for care.

The social welfare office checks and decides whether an apartment is still considered appropriate. For example, how much the apartment actually costs must be taken into account. The rules for this can differ from region to region.

Will the initial furnishing of my home also be supported?

Yes, this is possible in certain cases, for example:

if you move out of your parents' home and set up your own household,
if you were homeless and move back into an apartment,
if you no longer have your own household after a long stay in prison (at least 6 months) and move back into an apartment.

If the move or move-in has been approved by the relevant social welfare office, you can apply for what is known as "assistance with initial furnishings for the apartment". You will then receive a financial grant or vouchers for the most necessary household equipment. For example, for furniture, household appliances, pots and pans and other items. There is no uniform nationwide regulation on the amount of the allowance for initial furnishing of the home; it can vary from region to region.

What if I have rent debts?

If you are at risk of losing your home due to rent debts, the social welfare office can also take over rent debts under certain conditions. The debt is usually taken over as a loan.

Electricity debts can also be taken over if the electricity meter is at risk of being blocked or has already been blocked. Electricity debts are always taken over as a loan. A certain amount is withheld from the monthly benefit entitlement for repayment and is not paid out.

What if I live in a care home?

The entitlement to basic income support is not dependent on a specific living situation. If you live in a care home, the costs will be covered in the amount that is incurred for an average single-person household in your place of residence. You can also receive a so-called cash amount to finance personal needs and wishes. This can be used as you wish. You will also receive money for clothing (clothing allowance). The handling and responsibilities of providers can vary from region to region.

Basic security and income

If your income and assets are not sufficient to cover your living expenses, you may be entitled to basic income support. Before you receive this basic income support, you must first use the money you have to cover your living expenses. To do this, the social welfare office will check your income and how many assets you have. This also happens with your partner if you live in a civil partnership. It does not matter whether you are married or not.

How much money you receive as basic income support depends on the amount of income and the established need (see "Amount and composition of basic income support").

What income counts as income?

Income includes all income that you have while you are receiving basic income support. This includes all regular and irregular income, for example:

Pensions and annuities of all kinds from home and abroad (including from private or company pension schemes),
Gainful employment income (including from marginal employment),
Alimony payments,
parental allowance over €300,
rent and lease income,
Child benefit,
sickness benefit,
interest (over €26 per calendar year).

Is there also income that is not taken into account when calculating basic income support?

Yes, there is income that is not taken into account. These include, for example, the basic pension under the Federal Pension Act or your own care allowance.

How is basic income support calculated if I have an income?

If you have an income, allowances such as taxes, social security contributions or certain insurance premiums are deducted when calculating basic income support. After the deductions, the so-called income to be taken into account is calculated. The social welfare office assumes that you can use this money to pay for your living expenses. The income to be offset is therefore deducted from your total needs. If you live with a (spouse) partner, their income and assets will also be taken into account.

If you have any further questions about income and the calculation before you apply for basic income support, you can contact your social welfare office.

Basic security and assets

Basic security and health insurance

Basic security and pension provision

Basic security and obligations

What obligations do I have if I receive basic income support?

If you apply for basic income support, it is your duty to provide correct and complete information. This is known as the duty to cooperate. If there are any changes after you have submitted an application, you are obliged to inform your social welfare office as soon as possible. Typical reasons for a so-called duty to cooperate are a move, changes to the members of your household, changes to your financial situation and personal changes (marriage, separation, pregnancy, birth, etc.).

It is also a duty to cooperate if you submit required documents. The social welfare office will usually set you a deadline by which you must submit the documents. If you are unable to meet this deadline, you can ask the social welfare office for an extension (in good time). It is also best to explain why you cannot meet the deadline. If there is no official deadline, you should submit the documents as soon as possible. If you have any questions, the relevant social welfare office can also help you.

The obligation to cooperate applies to all persons whose income and assets are also taken into account. You should therefore inform these people in advance that you are applying for basic income support. This will enable you to provide correct and complete information.

Note: The information provided is subject to an information obligation in accordance with Article 14 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

As a recipient of basic income support, you must:

provide all information that is important in connection with the benefit (for example, income and assets),
agree that the social welfare office may also obtain information about you from other parties (for example, relatives or banks),
notify the social welfare office immediately of any changes in your personal circumstances if these are relevant to the calculation of the benefit (e.g. utility bills and changes in income),
provide the social welfare office with appropriate evidence (e.g. certificates of proof) if required or agree to their submission.

What happens if I do not fulfill these obligations?

If you fail to comply with the obligation to cooperate, the social welfare office may no longer pay the benefit and reclaim benefits that you have wrongly received. You can appeal against the decision of the social welfare office within one month. The case will then be reviewed again.

If you make false statements, for example about your income or assets, this can also lead to misdemeanor or criminal proceedings. The social welfare office regularly checks the income and assets of people who receive social benefits.

Amount and composition

How much money will I receive as basic income support?

The amount and scope of basic income support are comparable to Cost-of-living assistance benefits.

The amount of your basic income support depends on your personal needs and your income and assets. If you live in a marriage or marriage-like partnership, your partner's income is also taken into account (see "Basic income support and income").

The following rule of thumb applies to the amount of basic income support:

Needs minus income to be taken into account = amount of benefit.

How are needs made up?

The basic income support is intended to cover the following areas:

Costs of living
Costs of accommodation and heating
Health and long-term care insurance contributions
Pension contributions
Additional needs for certain groups of people (for example, if you have a Severely Disabled Pass with mark G)
Assistance in special cases (for example, initial furnishing of an apartment)

When calculating your needs, a distinction is made between the so-called standard needs, additional needs and one-off benefits. The level of need can vary for each applicant.

Regular need

The regular need is a monthly, flat-rate amount of money for everyday expenses such as food, clothing or household appliances. It corresponds to the current social welfare amount. The standard rates were increased as follows as of January 1, 2024:

Regular needs level 1 for single and single-parent beneficiaries: 563 euros

Regular needs level 2 for each adult person living with a partner, spouse or in a marriage-like relationship or for residents of a special form of accommodation: 506 euros

standard needs level 3 for an adult person accommodated in an inpatient facility: 451 euros

standard needs level 4 for young people from the age of 15 to the age of 18. up to the age of 18: 471 euros

Regular needs level 5 for children from the age of 7 up to the age of 14: 390 euros

Regular needs level 6 for children up to the age of 6: 357 euros

for children from the age of 7 up to the age of 14. 357 euros

In addition:

Needs for rent and heating,
Contributions for health and long-term care insurance.

Extra needs and one-off benefits

Extra needs can be applied for in special life situations. For example, if you have to eat differently for health reasons and therefore have higher costs, you can receive additional benefits. Additional needs also arise during pregnancy or if you are in possession of a Severely Disabled Pass with the mark G.
One-Time Needs and other needs include furniture and household appliances for the initial furnishing of an apartment or baby equipment.

If you are entitled to basic income support, you also have the option of using benefits for education and participation for your children. This includes, for example, costs for school trips, learning support and lunches for pupils.

Application and documents

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Apply for benefits online

You can apply for Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity directly online here.

To the online application

Social benefits from other subject areas

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Cost-of-living assistance

Are you currently unable to work for health reasons? Then you may be entitled to this benefit.

You can apply for Cost-of-living assistance directly online here.

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Citizen's benefit

If you have too little money to cover your living expenses, you may be entitled to Citizen's benefit. In order to receive it, you must either live in a community of need with a citizen's allowance recipient or generally be able to work. You can find out more about Citizen's benefit here.