One-Time Needs

The following conditions may determine whether you receive one-off needs:

• You receive subsistence assistance or basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity.
• You are in need of assistance. This means that you cannot fully cover your one-off needs from your own resources and strength.
• You have reached the standard retirement age or are over 18 years old and unable to work because you are temporarily or permanently fully disabled. You are temporarily fully incapacitated for work if you are unable to work regularly for at least 3 hours a day for more than 6 months.
• You are not studying and are not in training.
• You do not receive basic income support for jobseekers (citizen's allowance) or benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (AsylbLG).

One-off needs can be applied for at your local social welfare office or online here.

Important: If you receive assistance with living expenses or basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity, you do not need to submit an application. You only need to inform the social welfare office that you would like to claim one-off needs and then submit proof in order to be reimbursed for the associated costs.

You will also soon be able to use the online form to submit this evidence. The social welfare office will then check whether you are entitled to receive the benefit.

The non-recurring requirements include

• Initial furnishings for a home, including household appliances
  This may be the case, for example, when moving into your own home for the first time, after a fire, when renting for the first time after a long prison sentence or after separating from your partner
   
• Initial furnishings for clothing
  For example, after a fire in your home or a flood. Special consideration can also be given to exceptional circumstances, such as a significant change in weight.
   
• Purchases and repairs of orthopaedic shoes, repairs of therapeutic devices and equipment and the rental of therapeutic devices
  This applies both if you have to make additional payments to the health insurance fund and if the health insurance fund does not cover any costs at all.
   

• Initial equipment for pregnancy and birth 

  Note: As a rule, you cannot receive the benefit retrospectively.

• The decision as to whether you receive the benefit depends on your income and financial circumstances. The responsible social welfare office may ask you to provide further information or submit documents or forms.
• Submit the form and all required documents together.
• The social welfare office will decide on your needs and inform you of the result. This takes the form of a decision, which is usually sent to you by letter.
• If your need has been determined, you will receive a notification of approval. If the need is not determined, you will receive a rejection notice.
• In both cases, the notification must contain the reasons for the decision.
• The approval notice must state the amount of the benefit to be paid as well as any payment period. The social welfare office will transfer the money to your account on the date stated. You can also specify the account of a third party for the transfer.
• If you do not have your own account, you will receive the money as a cash payment or as a check.
   

If you do not live alone, the social welfare office will take into account the income of all members of your household to determine your need for assistance.

This includes, for example

• earned income
• maintenance payments 
• Pension income
• Certain assets are also regarded as protected assets and are not taken into account.

According to the current legal situation, these are, for example

• Smaller amounts of cash (financial assets per adult: 10,000 euros, per child: 500 euros)

  or

• an appropriate house property (depending on the size of the house, the number of residents and whether the house is lived in).

The processing time depends on the individual case. The responsible social welfare office will take care of the processing as quickly as possible. You can shorten the processing time if you submit all documents to the social welfare office promptly and in full.

If you do not agree with the approval or rejection notice, you can lodge an appeal within one month of being notified of the decision. Further information on how to lodge an appeal can be found in the notification.

The scope of the required documents depends on the individual case. The social welfare office responsible will tell you which documents you need. If available, these are normally documents such as  

• A valid identity card or passport, confirmation of registration if applicable
• Proof of a temporary or permanent full reduction in earning capacity
• Proof of income
• Proof of assets, for example bank statements and/or savings balances
  rental agreement
• Proof of expenses incurred, for example for ancillary costs, heating costs or insurance premiums
• Proof of health and long-term care insurance,
• First pension certificate for old-age pension.