Education and participation - when receiving housing benefit

If you receive Housing benefit, you can apply forthe benefits included in the education package directly online here or at your local office .

The Education and Participation Benefits, also known as the “Education Package,” support children and adolescents from low-income families. They should not be excluded from cultural, sports, and recreational activities, school lunches, field trips, and school trips, or academic support simply because their families lack the financial means. Children of refugees are also eligible to receive these benefits.

In general, you can apply for the benefits included in the education package if you receive one of the following benefits:

• Basic Income Support 
• Cost-of-living assistance
• Basic welfare for the elderly and people with reduced earnings capacity
• Benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act
• Housing benefit
• Child allowance (KiZ)

If you would like to receive benefits under the Education and Participation Package, you should submit the following documents, as complete as possible:

You can only receive benefits from the Education and Participation Package once you have submitted your application.

You are entitled to benefits from the Education and Participation Package as long as you receive the required benefit (Housing benefit). If you start earning enough money again to cover the costs of your children’s school and recreational activities on your own, the benefits will no longer be paid.

The time it takes to process your application varies from municipality to municipality. 

Any benefits or costs incurred during the processing period will be reimbursed retroactively to the date the application was submitted.

There are no costs to you if you have a bank account. 

If you do not have an account, you will receive a check from your local municipal office. This may incur fees, which will be deducted directly from your benefits. You can cash the check at a bank.