Education and participation package
No child should be disadvantaged: financial support for education and leisure activities
All children and young people should have the same opportunities to grow up well. The financial situation should not stand in the way if your child wants to take part in school lunches or club sports, go on a school trip or need extra tuition. There are benefits from the education and participation package for this. Families who do not exceed certain income limits are entitled to these grants. The application process is not complicated at all and will soon be possible digitally. We explain how it works.
Make it possible for your child to take part!
Your child would like to learn to play the guitar or take ballet lessons? A school trip lasting several days is coming up in the next school semester and you don't know where the money for the personal contribution will come from? Are there gaps in math or English and your child needs learning support to achieve their learning goals?
This is exactly what the benefits from the education and participation package are for. The grants ensure that education and shared experiences are accessible to everyone and that your child is not excluded due to financial constraints. Your child deserves to be everywhere and to develop their talents. So don't hesitate to accept this support if you meet the requirements.
What are benefits from the education and participation package?
Children and young people are entitled to benefits from the education and participation package if their family does not have sufficient financial means to pay for school supplies, learning support and joint activities with their peers.
Funding is provided for:
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Personal school supplies
Pupils receive an amount for school equipment on August 1 and February 1 for purchases such as school bags, sports equipment and writing, arithmetic and drawing materials (e.g. pens, crayons, calculators, exercise books). The amount is regularly reviewed and adjusted.
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School trips and excursions
The actual costs of participation in excursions and trips lasting one or more days within the framework of school regulations or within the framework of day care centers and child day care facilities can be covered.
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School transportation
Pupils who are dependent on school transport 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.
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Learning support
As a supplement to school lessons, pupils can receive suitable learning support to help them achieve their learning goals. This may be necessary even before promotion is directly at risk. A particular prerequisite is that there are no comparable school offers or other forms of support, e.g. from the youth welfare office.
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Communal lunchtime meals in daycare centers and schools
If lunchtime meals are provided by the daycare center or the school and served communally, the corresponding costs are covered. Lunch within the school must be the responsibility of the school.
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Participation in social and cultural life
Children and young people who have not yet reached the age of 18 are entitled to 15 euros per month for participation in social and cultural life. If the benefits are not used in one or more months, they are combined 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 provider, for example. It is also possible to be reimbursed for equipment for participation in the activities - e.g. soccer boots if the child is registered with a soccer club.
Apply for benefits from the education and participation package now: here's how it works
If you receive child supplement or housing benefit, a separate application is required to claim education and participation benefits.
To apply, please contact the local contact points.
Please remember to enclose your current notice of approval for housing benefit or child supplement as well as proof of the costs of the specific measure with your application.
If you have already incurred expenses, you can also submit the relevant receipts. If you have someone representing you when applying, please remember to submit a signed power of attorney.
If you receive citizen's allowance, assistance towards living expenses, basic income support in old age and in the event of full reduction in earning capacity or asylum seeker benefits, no separate application for education and participation benefits is required. However, please submit the relevant evidence for the individual benefits, such as a school trip.
Please contact the local job center (citizen's allowance) or your local or district administration.
Further information on the education and participation package
Further information on the education and participation package
Where can we find help and advice?
You can contact various contact points for information on the education and participation package.
- City or municipality: If you receive child supplement, housing benefit, benefits under the AsylbLG, assistance with living expenses or basic income support in old age and in the event of full reduction in earning capacity, contact the administration of your city or district directly.
- Jobcenter: You can obtain information and submit applications at the relevant job center if you receive citizen's allowance.
- Family benefits office at the Federal Employment Agency: The family benefits office can also help you with questions.
- School: Contact your child's school directly for support. Counselors and school social workers can provide information and help you with the application process.
- Kita: Contact the head of the daycare center or the group leader at your child's daycare center.
- Bürgertelefon des Bundesministeriums für Arbeit und Soziales: Here you can get advice from Monday to Thursday from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm on the Berlin landline number 030 221 911 009.
- Broschürenservice des Ministeriums für Arbeit, Gesundheit und Soziales des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen: Here you can also obtain information on the education and participation package in Turkish, Russian, Arabic and Tigrinya.
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