Apply for education and participation benefits for children, adolescents and young adults in receipt of subsistence assistance

You can receive financial support for various activities through the education and participation package. The funding is aimed at children, teenagers and young adults.

The benefits from the education and participation package are granted as part of certain social benefits. Subsistence assistance as part of social welfare is one of these social benefits. If you are entitled to assistance with living expenses, you can apply for financial support from the education and participation package regardless of your age. The support covers the following areas:

• The actual costs of one-day excursions for schools, day-care centers and day-care facilities are reimbursed.
• The actual costs of excursions lasting several days organized by day-care centers and childminders as well as school trips within the framework of school regulations are covered.
• The provision of personal school supplies is subsidized annually with 2 lump sums at the beginning of each school year. The amount differs between the 1st and 2nd half of the school year.
• The necessary actual expenses for transportation to the nearest school of the chosen course of education (monthly student tickets) are covered.
• The costs of additional appropriate learning support are covered insofar as they are necessary to achieve the learning objectives defined in accordance with school regulations.
• Expenses for communal lunchtime meals for schoolchildren (if the school is responsible) and for children in day-care centers and day-care facilities are paid.

Up to the maximum age of 18:

• Participation in social and cultural life, for example in a sports club or music school, is subsidized with up to EUR 15.00 per month.

• §§ Sections 34, 34a and 34b of the Twelfth Book of the German Social Code (SGB XII)

The responsible office will inform you of any documents that may be required.

• You or the children, adolescents or young adults concerned:
  • receive assistance with living expenses as part of social welfare,
  • attend a general or vocational school, a day care center or child day care.
• Excursions:
  • Excursions lasting several days must be within the framework of school regulations.
• Personal school supplies
  • For children under 7 years of age or if the child attends a secondary school after the 10th school year, you must submit a school certificate.
• School transportation
  • The costs are not covered in full by third parties, such as the school authority. If only part of the travel costs are covered by third parties, only the personal contribution can be reimbursed.
  • The distance between your place of residence and your school or institution is greater than the minimum distance stipulated by law.
  • Under certain circumstances, the nearest school may also have a special focus, for example a sports or language profile, or it may be a Waldorf school.
• extracurricular learning support
  • The school must confirm that you need the additional learning support. If there are school offers, you must use them as a priority. It does not matter whether your promotion is at risk.
  • Learning support is offered by a suitable provider or a suitable private person.
• communal lunch
  • You or your child attend a school, a daycare center, a daycare facility or an after-school care center.
  • Lunchtime meals are provided by the institution or are agreed in a cooperation agreement with the institution (e.g. between the school and the after-school care center).
  • Meals are served and eaten communally.
• Upper age limit for participation benefits for taking part in culture, sport and leisure in the community: 18 years of age

The implementation of the education package is organized locally in the districts and independent cities. As a general rule, anyone who receives assistance with living expenses should contact the social welfare office for benefits from the education and participation package.

• Information on the education package on the website of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS)
• Information on education and participation on the family portal

You must submit a separate application for school requirements if your child is either still under 7 years old or has already completed the 10th school year but is attending a secondary school. In these cases, a school certificate must be submitted as proof.

• The legal process for applicants is outlined in the respective notification of the application:
  • Appeal to the authority issuing the decision
  • Action before the social court

• Application for benefits for education and participation (pdf)