Does your family receive benefits under SGB II, SGB XII, AsylbLG, housing benefit or child supplement? Then you can receive financial support for participation in school, daycare, child daycare and leisure activities as well as equipment, meals and transportation.
Applying for benefits for education and participation may vary depending on which eligibility criteria you meet. Ask the office responsible for you how you can apply for the benefits.
As soon as an online service is available for the benefit, you will find the link here in the family portal.
You can find the office responsible for you in the List of local contact points of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
You can receive benefits from the education and participation package for your children if they have not yet reached the age of 25, attend a general or vocational school or a child day care facility and do not receive a training allowance.
The prerequisite is that your children or you yourself receive basic income support for jobseekers, social assistance or benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act or receive the child supplement or housing benefit. There is an exception to this if you receive benefits in accordance with SGB XII: The age limit of 25 does not apply here. Another exception is benefits for participation in social and cultural life, where the age limit is 18.
What benefits are available?
For participation in excursions and trips lasting one or more days within the framework of school regulations or within the framework of day care centers or child day care facilities, the actual costs can be covered.
Personal school supplies
From January 1, 2024, a total of EUR 195 per child and school year (EUR 130 for the first half of the school year and EUR 65 for the second half) will be paid out for personal school supplies, such as writing, arithmetic and drawing materials, sportswear and school bags.
Pupil transportation
Pupils who are dependent on school transportation to attend the nearest school of their chosen course of education will be reimbursed for the actual costs incurred. The prerequisite for this is that the transportation is not covered by a third party, such as the school authority.
Learning support
As a supplement to school lessons, pupils can receive suitable learning support to help them achieve their learning goals. In particular, the prerequisite is that no comparable school offers or other support, e.g. from the youth welfare office, exist.
Lunch at daycare centers and schools
If lunch is provided by the daycare center or school and served communally, the corresponding costs are covered. Lunch at school must be the responsibility of the school.
Participation in social and cultural life
Children and young people who have not yet reached the age of 18 are entitled to €15 per month for participation in social and cultural life in the community. If the benefits are not used in one or more months, they are pooled as a budget and can be paid out collectively. Membership fees in the areas of sport, games, culture and socializing, lessons in artistic subjects (e.g. music lessons), guided cultural activities (e.g. museum visits) and participation in leisure activities are covered. The leisure activities must be organized and supervised by a sponsor, for example. It is also possible to be reimbursed for equipment and facilities for participation in the activities, e.g. soccer boots if the child is registered with a soccer club.
The application can be submitted once or several times a year, depending on the component applied for (e.g. school trip or club membership).
In order to claim benefits for education and participation, you must submit an application to your local social welfare office. Please remember to enclose your current notice of approval for housing benefit or child supplement with the application.
Proof of the costs of the specific measure / specific funding requirement must also be enclosed. If you have already made advance payments, you can also submit these documents.If you are represented by someone else when submitting your application, please remember to provide a power of attorney.
If you receive benefits in accordance with SGB II (Hartz IV), you no longer need to submit a separate application, as the benefits for education and participation are applied for directly with the main application. In this case, it is sufficient for you to inform the job center responsible for you of your needs/specify your needs.
Apply in good time
So that your child can take part right from the start, please submit your application as early as possible. Your child will then receive money from the education and participation package as quickly and easily as possible.
The average processing time varies from region to region.
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