Use a computer or cell phone with an Internet connection. Start the desired application via the social platform. Fill in the fields as completely as you can. Upload the required supporting documents and send the application with or without complete supporting documents - directly online via the website. The authority responsible for you will receive your application and process it. The more complete your supporting documents are, the faster your application can be processed. If you have any queries or missing documents, your case officer will contact you by phone, post or email. You will usually receive your final decision by post, but increasingly often by e-mail. Once your application has been sent and transmitted to the competent authority, the application and your data will be completely deleted from our system.
Questions about the application
Questions about the application
If your responsible office is not yet connected, you must contact them directly.
As a rule, you can then only submit a paper application and not an online application.
You only need a computer, a tablet or your cell phone. These must be connected to the Internet. You do not need a printer. If you only have your proofs in paper form, a cell phone photo of the document is sufficient. A scanner is not required.
If you want to authenticate yourself with the online ID card, please read the requirements for this in the "Online ID card" section.
To ensure that the applications work as smoothly as possible, we recommend that you use the latest version of your Internet browser. For example, use Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
You can download a current browser free of charge here:
Google Chrome: https://www.google.com/chrome/
Mozilla Firefox: https://www.mozilla.org/de/firefox/new/
After submitting your application, your entries will be summarized as a PDF document. You will need a PDF reader to view the file. You can download this free of charge here:
PDF Reader: https://www.adobe.com/de/acrobat/pdf-reader.htm
You do not need a printer. The application is purely digital without paper. All you need is a computer, a tablet or your cell phone connected to the Internet. If you only have your documents in paper form, a cell phone photo of the document is sufficient. You do not need a scanner for this.
Yes, it is also possible to submit an application on the social platform if you do not register on the platform and create an account. You will then need your electronic ID card/online ID card. Authentication with your ID card takes place at the end when you have completed the application and want to submit it.
You will need:
- the online ID function of the ID card must be activated,
- your six-digit PIN,
- a suitable smartphone or card reader.
Important: If you have not registered, the "cache function" is not available. This means that you can not pause work on your application and resume it at a later date.
Yes, applications can be submitted by court-appointed guardians as well as by representatives. You can make the appropriate selection in the application form.
The use of the social platform and the creation of any online applications for social benefits are free of charge. Administrative fees are only charged for certain administrative services - just like when visiting a traditional public authority.
The processing time can vary depending on the application and personal situation. For this reason, most applications can be saved in the meantime. On the other hand, you can also send the application online with just a few details about your situation to ensure that the deadline is met. You will need to provide all other information later. Please bear in mind that a decision on your application can only be made once all the required information has been submitted.
In principle, your data is always saved when you make a chapter change. This allows you to temporarily save your entries regardless of whether the application is complete. In this way, you can ensure that they are not lost for later processing.
If you only authenticate with your ID card, you cannot cache your application.
If you do not have all the documents to hand when entering the data, you can still send your application immediately to meet the deadline. You should submit any missing documents as soon as possible, as a decision cannot be made until your application is complete. However, you cannot submit your supporting documents digitally via the social platform at this time, but must submit them to the authority responsible for you.
Your caseworker will contact you and request this evidence from you. You can also contact the office responsible for you directly. To do this, use the localization function on the "Submit application" page and select the application. Under "Where can I contact", enter the zip code or town that you also specified in your application. The contact details of the responsible office will then be displayed. You should submit the missing documents as soon as possible, as no decision can be made until your application is complete.
Once you have successfully sent the application, you will be shown a processing number, the so-called shipping ID. Make a note of this. If you have any queries or need to submit additional evidence, you can also provide the shipping ID to your authority. We also recommend that you save all documents offered for download on the website to your computer, tablet or smartphone. These include a summary of the information you have provided. This usually also contains an overview of the required supporting documents. If you have any questions later, you can check here at any time to see what you have entered in the application or what is still missing. Submit the missing documents as soon as possible, as no decision can be made until your application is complete.
The average processing time varies depending on the applicant and the responsible office. As a general rule, the more thoroughly the application is completed and the more supporting documents are attached, the faster it can be processed.
If you have any questions, you can contact the authority responsible for you directly at any time. The authority responsible for you will be displayed if you enter your zip code in the online application.
Please read the error message carefully. This usually provides information about the cause of the technical problem and how it can be resolved. Please also check your internet connection. To be able to use the social platform, you need an Internet connection. If you cannot solve the problem, please click "back", then check all fields and your entries and try to continue or resubmit the application. In many cases, the problem can be solved in this way.
If the problem persists, you can contact the social platform's information hotline on 0211 837-1955 between 8 am and 6 pm.
Your application data is temporarily stored in your user account after each completed chapter. However, this does not apply if you do not have a user account and only authenticate yourself with your electronic ID card. Please note that the application only becomes legally effective once it has been submitted.