Cost-of-living assistance (Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt)

If you are currently unable to work due to health reasons, you may be eligible for this benefit. The prerequisite is that you are temporarily unable to support yourself or with the help of other people, such as a partner or your family.
Eine illustrierte Figur steht an der Kasse mit Einkäufen.
Ein Portrait einer illustrierten Figur.
Are you temporarily unable to work or only a little work for health reasons and need financial support to cover basic living costs, such as rent and health insurance? This is where livelihood assistance can be there to support you until you feel better again.
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Pomoc w pokryciu kosztów utrzymania (Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt).

„Pomoc w pokryciu kosztów utrzymania” to świadczenie socjalne udzielane przez państwo. Bywa też nazywana pomocą społeczną (Sozialhilfe). Przeznaczony jest dla osób, które nie mogą pracować lub mogą pracować tylko trochę przez jakiś czas. Ponieważ w takich przypadkach pieniądze są często ograniczone, pomoc na utrzymanie służy do opłacenia podstawowych potrzeb, takich jak żywność, odzież i czynsz. Można go otrzymać tylko wtedy, gdy nie przysługują inne świadczenia państwowe, takie jak renta czy zasiłek dla bezrobotnych II (Arbeitslosengeld II). Należy również wykluczyć pomoc innych osób, na przykład członków rodziny. Pomoc w zakresie kosztów utrzymania można uzyskać w lokalnym urzędzie do ds. opieki społecznej (Sozialamt).

Na tej stronie dowiesz się wszystkiego, co powinieneś wiedzieć o pomocy w pokryciu kosztów utrzymania. Wniosek online można znaleźć tutaj.

In these cases, assistance with living expenses is not the appropriate benefit

In these cases, assistance with living expenses is not the appropriate benefit
 

  • Permanent reduction in earning capacity

    If it is likely that you will not be able to work permanently (permanent reduction in earning capacity), assistance with living expenses is not the right benefit for you. In this case, please contact the German Pension Insurance. If it has been established that you are permanently incapacitated for work, basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity may be the right benefit for you.

  • Shared household with person(s) capable of gainful employment

    Die Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt bekommen meistens nur alleinstehende Personen. Wenn Sie mit einer erwerbsfähigen Person (darunter fallen auch Kinder ab 15 Jahren) in einer Einstandsgemeinschaft leben, haben Sie keinen Anspruch auf Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt. Stattdessen kommt für Sie vielleicht Bürgergeld in Betracht.

    In most cases, only single people receive assistance with living expenses. If you live with a person of working age (including children aged 15 and over) in a single household, you are not entitled to assistance with living expenses. Instead, you may be eligible for citizen's benefit.

Who is eligible?

You are eligible if you

  • not being able to make a living from their own income and assets
  • are unable to support yourself with the help of other people, such as your wife or husband
  • have not yet reached retirement age
  • are temporarily unable to work (also known as "temporarily disabled")
  • have no or insufficient entitlement to other social benefits, such as child benefit, housing benefit, pension, unemployment benefit, sickness benefit and parental allowance

* You are considered temporarily reduced in earning capacity if you are able to work less than 3 hours for more than 6 months (usually due to illness)

You are not eligible if you

  • live abroad permanently
  • are able to work, i.e. could work, and are therefore entitled to the "basic income support for jobseekers" benefit (citizen's allowance)
  • are permanently fully incapacitated for work
  • do not have German citizenship and do not have the necessary right of residence to receive assistance with living expenses
  • are entitled to benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act
  • receive a permanent reduced earning capacity pension or have reached the age for a regular old-age pension
  • live together with a person capable of work in a so-called single household (usually a joint household, see also section "Assistance for living expenses and family")

Najważniejsze tematy dotyczące pomocy w pokryciu kosztów utrzymania

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Apply Online

You can apply for assistance with living expenses directly online here. 

Pomoc w każdej sytuacji życiowej.