Education and participation package
Simply explained 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 extra money ensures that education and communal 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.
Further information on the education and participation package can be found in our explanatory video.
What subsidies are available? 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 materials, tutoring and joint activities with their peers.
The following are supported:
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School material
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
Full costs (excluding pocket money) can be covered 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 and child day care facilities. This includes, for example, ski trips and school exchanges.
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Student monthly ticket
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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Tutoring
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 immediately at risk. In particular, the 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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Lunch
Your child will receive the communal lunch at the daycare center or school free of charge. Lunch at school must be the responsibility of the school.
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Sport, culture and leisure
Children and young people who have not yet reached the age of 18 are entitled to 15 euros per month to participate in social and cultural life. 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 provider, for example. It is also possible to be reimbursed for the equipment needed to take part in the activities - e.g. soccer boots if the child is registered with a soccer club.
Where can I get help and advice? Apply now for benefits from the education and participation package
If you receive child supplement or housing benefit, a separate application is required to claim the education and participation benefits.
The staff at your local contact point will advise you on all questions relating to the education and participation package and the application process - on site, by phone or by email.
So that we can show you the right contact point for you, please enter your zip code or place of residence and select which benefit you receive.
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 the application.
If you have already incurred expenses, you can also submit the relevant receipts. If you are represented by someone else when submitting your application, please remember to provide a signed power of attorney.
If you receive citizen's allowance, assistance with living expenses, basic income support in old age and in the event of full reduction in earning capacity or asylum seeker benefits, you do not need to submit a separate application for education and participation benefits. However, please submit the relevant documents for the individual benefits, such as a school trip.
Who is supported? Requirements for benefits from the education and participation package
You are entitled to benefits from the education and participation package if you or your child receive one of the following benefits:
- Citizen's allowance
- Help towards living expenses
- Grundsicherung im Alter und bei Erwerbsminderung
- Wohngeld
- Kinderzuschlag
- Asylbewerberleistungen.
In addition, you may be entitled to benefits from the education package under Social Code II or Social Code XII if your child or you as parents do not otherwise receive any of the social benefits mentioned, but are unable to cover the child's specific education and participation needs. In this case, please contact the local job center.
Benefits from the education package are generally paid for children up to the age of 25. However, benefits for participation in cultural, sports and leisure activities (e.g. music school or sports club) are only paid up to the age of 18.
TIP
It has been found that many families are not even aware that they are entitled to housing benefit or child supplement. It is therefore worth clarifying this. You can use these benefits to supplement the family income and at the same time give your child access to the benefits of the education and participation package. You can find more information on housing benefit on the website of the Bauministeriums NRW and on the child supplement here on the Familienportal.NRW.
What do I get? Amount of participation benefits
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School supplies package
From January 1, 2024, a lump sum of 195 euros per child and school year (130 euros for the first half of the school year and 65 euros for the second half of the school year) will be paid out for personal school supplies.
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School and daycare excursions
For school and daycare outings, the actual costs are covered for all expenses that the daycare center or school settles with you. Pocket money for additional expenses during the excursion will not be reimbursed.
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School transportation
Under certain conditions, the costs for the journey to the nearest school can be covered if they are not granted by another party.
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Learning support
The actual costs will be covered if they are reasonable.
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Lunch catering
The actual costs are covered without charging a personal contribution.
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Participation in social and cultural life
A lump sum of 15 euros per month is granted.
Where can I get more information?
You can also obtain further information on the education and participation package from these places:
- School: Contact your child's school directly for support. The guidance counselors and school social work staff 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.
- BuT advice: The BuT advice service will help you with your application. Free of charge, without an appointment and in 5 languages - by phone on 030 5771 30040 or at but-beratung.de.
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