Terms of use
Terms of use for the application assistants on the social platform
The social platform is a service provided by the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MAGS NRW). As a cross-state administration portal, the social platform is intended to provide users with electronic access to various administrative services in the area of employment and social affairs. The social platform contains information on individual administrative services and enables applications for benefits to be submitted electronically via so-called application assistants.
1 Scope of the Terms of Use
These Terms of Use govern the relationship between users of the application wizards and MAGS NRW as the provider of the social platform. Every user must take note of the terms of use and accept them each time they use the application assistants. MAGS NRW reserves the right to amend the terms of use if necessary.
2. Authorization to use and obligation to register
Users of the application assistants within the meaning of these Terms of Use are natural persons who wish to submit an application electronically via the social platform. Use requires registration, which takes place via the user account (see 3.1 for more details) or by means of a new identity card or electronic residence permit. Users must consent to the transfer of their user data to the application assistant when submitting their application.
3. Requirements for using the application assistants
3.1 Authentication
The application assistants require users to authenticate themselves via a user account. In order to use some functionalities, authentication and, if necessary, identification with the online ID function of the ID card or electronic residence permit is required. The online ID function must be activated for this. Additional hardware and software may also be required to register and use the user account. The AusweisApp can be used to read the personal data from the ID card into the user account. To do this, you need either a card reader or a suitable smartphone. Further information on this can be found at www.ausweisapp.bund.de.
3.2 Further technical requirements
The social platform can be accessed via the website www.sozialplattform.de
Using the application wizards requires:
- Internet access,
- a browser (e.g. Chrome, Firefox or Safari) and a password. The latest version of a browser (e.g. Chrome, Firefox or Safari),
- activation of Java script in the browser,
- acceptance of cookies and
- an email address (if necessary to create a user account such as Servicekonto.NRW).
Only the Portable Document Format (PDF) or image files in PNG, JPEG or HEIC format are permitted as the storage format for files to be uploaded to the application wizard. A file may not be larger than 10 MB. In total, the application with all attachments must not exceed 30 MB.
3.3 Intermediate storage during the application process
Users have the option of interrupting the application process. Intermediate storage takes place via the social platform. This enables users to obtain the necessary information or documents that are required at the time of application but are not yet available
.4. Availability of the application wizards
The MAGS NRW provides access to the application wizards on the social platform within the scope of its technical and organizational possibilities. In principle, the application wizards are available to users for an unlimited period of time. The accessibility of the social platform may be restricted or suspended due to maintenance work, disruptions or force majeure. There is no entitlement to constant, uninterrupted availability of the application assistants. However, the operation of the social platform is organized in such a way that technical problems are resolved promptly.
Due to maintenance work, disruptions or force majeure, the delivery of an application that has already been sent to the responsible institution may also be delayed. There is no entitlement to a specific delivery date once an application has been sent.
5. Access and receipt of electronic documents
An application is only deemed to have been submitted once the relevant data record has been received by the competent institution via the application assistant on the social platform. Once the application wizard has been completed, it is regularly possible to download a confirmation that the application has been sent via the social platform.
6. User obligations
6.1 Complete and correct information
Users are obliged to provide up-to-date, complete and correct information on the data requested in the application assistant. Incorrect information, for example on income or assets, can lead to legal consequences, such as the non-processing or rejection of an application, the refusal of a benefit, for example due to a lack of cooperation in accordance with Section 66 SGB I, repayment claims by the responsible institution or criminal consequences, for example in accordance with Section 263 StGB due to the fraudulent obtaining of social benefits.
6.2 Keeping the password secret
The users are solely responsible for keeping the password for the Servicekonto.NRW or a comparable account of another federal state or the federal government secret. They are also solely responsible for all activities carried out using their registration. They undertake to inform the responsible body immediately of any unauthorized use of their registration or any other breach of security.
The MAGS NRW is not liable for any damages incurred by users as a result of third parties using their passwords or registrations for the user account on the social platform with or without their knowledge. Users may be held liable for damages and expenses incurred by the competent institution or another party due to the use of the user's registration or password by a third party, provided that the user is at fault.
6.3 Use of the application wizards
Use of the application wizards on the social platform is permitted on the condition that users do not use the services for purposes that violate these Terms of Use or are unlawful. This includes, in particular, any dissemination and transmission of illegal content, especially pornographic content, content that glorifies violence, discriminatory content or content that is immoral. The mass, unsolicited sending of content irrelevant to the application process (spamming) is also prohibited.
The application wizards may not be used in any way that could damage, disable, overload or impair a server or the network of the social platform operator or the networks or servers of third parties, or that could impair the use of the application wizards by third parties. The uploading of electronic data of any kind that is not related to the application process is generally not permitted.
Users are not permitted to gain unauthorized access to registrations, computer systems or networks connected to the server of the aforementioned data centers by decrypting codes, illegally obtaining passwords or other methods.
6.4 Right to block in the event of breach of user obligations
In the event of a breach of these Terms of Use, in particular of the user obligations under section 6.3, the user may be permanently or at least temporarily blocked from using the application wizards. The block only applies to electronic applications. Applications by post or in person are still possible and remain unaffected by the block.
6.5 Obligation to cooperate and monitor
Users are obliged to notify the responsible institution immediately of any changes to their contact details, in particular the email address provided for contact purposes, stating the case number. They should regularly check their email inbox for new messages from the operator of the social platform or the responsible institution. If messages are sent by email and the user does not respond to them, this may have negative consequences, for example a delayed benefit or a rejection of the application due to missing information.
6.6 Obligations to retain and surrender
If copies or scans of original paper documents are uploaded as part of the application process, they must be returned. If copies or scans of original paper documents were uploaded and sent as part of the application, these paper documents must be stored securely even after the application has been submitted until at least the conclusion of the procedure and must be submitted to the competent institution immediately upon request. This applies in particular to certificates and other authenticated documents. Statutory retention periods remain unaffected.
The attachments uploaded and sent as part of the application must also be stored securely beyond the submission of the application until at least the conclusion of the procedure and forwarded to the competent institution immediately upon request.
After submitting the documents, users receive an overview of the application data (application overview) and a confirmation that the application has been sent for download. This contains a process number. Users are obliged to store the data securely and to make it available to the responsible institution on request. In the event that an application is not received by the competent institution despite being sent, the confirmation of dispatch must be made available to the operator of the social platform on request if the whereabouts of the data can be traced as a result.
7. Copyright
Text, images, graphics, files and the design of the social platform website, in particular the application wizards, the underlying structure and content, are subject to copyright in whole or in part. Users are only entitled to use the social platform, the application wizards and the information and content contained therein to submit applications. Users are not granted any further rights. Reproduction or use of the content or parts thereof in other electronic or printed publications and their publication is only permitted with prior authorization. § Section 53 of the German Copyright Act (UrhG) remains unaffected.
8. Data protection
The processing of personal data on the social platform and in the context of using the application wizards is carried out as described in the privacy policy.
9. Costs, fees
Use of the social platform is free of charge for users. When using the service telephone number provided on the social platform, there are no additional costs to the user's tariff.