Education and participation

The education and participation package includes various subsidies for school, sport, games and culture. The costs are covered either by personalized vouchers, by direct payments to the provider of the service or by cash payments to the beneficiaries (for example, by reimbursement of expenses when proof is provided). The cash benefit can also be paid in advance of a service.

Funded:

Day trips and school trips

The costs of excursions and school trips lasting one or more days can be covered if they are officially organized by the daycare centre or childcare facility or by the school within the framework of school regulations.

School supplies (e.g. pens, paper)

Pupils receive an allowance for school supplies per school semester. The grant can be used to buy equipment for school, for example a school bag, sports kit, pens, exercise books, calculators or craft materials. If there are several children, legal guardians receive the grant for each child in each school semester. Recipients of Citizen's benefit, Cost-of-living assistance, Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity or asylum seeker benefits are automatically paid the allowance for school supplies with their benefit. Recipients of Housing benefit and Child allowance must submit an application to the local authority responsible in order to receive the allowance for school supplies.

Pupil transportation (by bus and train)

Pupils who can only reach school by bus or train can be reimbursed for the cost of transportation to the nearest school. This does not apply if other providers already cover the costs. A school with a special profile (e.g. with a sports or language profile or a Waldorf school) is also considered to be the "nearest school of the chosen course of education".

Federal states and local authorities have different regulations regarding the distance from which a ticket is paid for.

Learning support (tutoring)

If pupils need help with their learning, they can receive learning support. The costs for learning support are reimbursed so that essential learning goals (e.g. promotion) can be achieved. However, this is only possible if the school recommends learning support. No comparable school offers or other support, for example from the youth welfare office, may be possible.

Lunch at the daycare centre, child daycare or school

If lunch is organized by the daycare centre, child daycare or school and eaten together, the costs can be covered.

Culture, sport and leisure (e.g. music lessons, theater or soccer club)

If children need money for their hobby, they can receive up to €15 per month. The child must be under 18 years old for this. The money is paid for activities in the areas of sport, games, culture and socializing, lessons in artistic subjects (e.g. music lessons), cultural activities (e.g. educational museum offers) and participation in leisure activities (e.g. during vacations). Parent-infant programs (e.g. baby swimming and fee-based toddler and play groups) can also be funded. However, the leisure activities must always serve the purpose of participation in social and cultural life. In individual cases, the costs of the necessary equipment can also be reimbursed, for example soccer boots if the child is registered with a soccer club.

The benefits for education and participation vary.

Overview of all eligible costs*:

• one-day excursions with the daycare center, child daycare or school (actual costs, i.e. the costs that the school, daycare center or child daycare demands are covered),
• multi-day class and daycare trips (actual costs),
• personal school supplies,
• pupils' transportation to school,
• learning support (actual costs - tutoring can be claimed if essential learning objectives are directly at risk),
• participation in a shared lunch at school, daycare center or child day care (actual costs) daycare center or child daycare (actual costs),
• participation in social and cultural life in the community (for example in a sports club or music school in the amount of up to 15 euros per month)

*Important: The basis is formed by the federal regulations. However, the type and scope may vary depending on the local authority.

What is not paid for?

• Pocket money for excursions and trips with the daycare center or school
• Break-time snacks
• Leisure activities that do not serve the purpose of participation, but are only carried out alone (for example, gym membership)

People who receive the following benefits must submit an application for benefits under the education and participation package:

• Housing benefit
• Child allowance

People who receive the following benefits do not have to submit their own application:

• Citizen's benefit
• Cost-of-living assistance
• Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity
• Benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act

Important: Even if no application has to be made, proof of benefits must be submitted in order to be reimbursed for associated costs.

People who do not receive any of the above-mentioned benefits may still be able to receive benefits from the education and participation package if appropriate proof is provided. In this case, you should consult your local authority.

In order to be reimbursed, all evidence/receipts for expenses must be collected. This includes, for example, bus tickets and invoices from the school for the day trip.

Important: The costs can only be reimbursed if the relevant receipts are available. The situation is different for personal school supplies. Here, a fixed amount is transferred for each school semester. In order to receive this amount, the child's school certificate must be forwarded to the office responsible for providing benefits. This is only necessary if the child is under 7 or over 15 years old.

You only need to submit proof of your costs and do not need to submit an application if you receive the following benefits:

• Citizen's benefit
• Cost-of-living assistance
• Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity
• Benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act

Important: Even if you do not have to submit an application, proof of benefits must be submitted in order to be reimbursed for associated costs.

People who do not receive any of the above-mentioned benefits may still be able to receive benefits from the education and participation package if appropriate proof is provided. In this case, you should consult your local authority.

You must submit an application if you receive the following benefits:

• Child allowance
• Housing benefit

Exception: If you receive a benefit to secure your income until 31 December 2023. If you have applied for a benefit to secure your livelihood (Cost-of-living assistance or Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity) by December 31, 2023, this also includes learning support benefits. You then only need to submit proof of your costs. School supplies (e.g. pens, paper) also do not need to be applied for separately. This is automatically paid out with the benefits in a lump sum. The child's school certificate is sufficient proof of this.

Benefits for education and participation are only paid to adolescents and young adults who do not receive a training allowance. If you earn money during your training and cannot claim any social benefits, you cannot receive any benefits from the education and participation package.

If you submit an application, it will be reviewed individually for each child. If you have several children, you will need a separate application for each child.