Apply for education and participation benefits for children, adolescents and young adults in receipt of housing benefit

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. Housing benefit is one of these social benefits. If you are entitled to housing benefit, you can apply for financial support from the education and participation package.

The funding covers the following areas:

Up to a maximum of 18 years of age:

• 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.

Up to a maximum age of 25:

• 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 two lump sums at the beginning of each school year. The amount differs between the first and second 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.

• § Section 6b of the Federal Child Benefit Act (BKGG)
• §§ Sections 28 ff of the Second Book of the Social Code - Basic Security for Jobseekers (SGB II)

• You or the children, adolescents or young adults concerned:
  • receive housing benefit
  • attend a general or vocational school, a day care center or day care for children
• Upper age limit for participation benefits for taking part in culture, sport and leisure in the community: 18 years of age
• Upper age limit for educational benefits: 25 years
• Even if you are between 14 and 27 years old, receive housing benefit and are not paid enough as part of your vocational training, you are entitled to education and participation benefits.
• 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.

• 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.

• Application for benefits for education and participation (pdf)