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Apply for hardship compensation as part of social compensation

Injured parties can receive hardship compensation as a result of a recognized injury and under certain conditions. You can find out more about this here.

  • Basic information

    The benefit is intended to compensate for cases of hardship that have arisen in connection with health impairments or damage. It is intended to support people who are particularly disadvantaged due to certain circumstances and who may be entitled to financial compensation.

    If the exclusion from individual or all benefits under SGB XIV constitutes a particular hardship, you can receive hardship compensation. The form and amount are at the discretion of the competent authority.

    Please note that your social compensation provider will decide whether and to what extent you receive support.

    Requirements

    • You have suffered a health impairment in Germany or, under certain conditions, abroad (§ 15 SGB XIV) due to a damaging event.
    • The health impairment has resulted in physical, psychological, mental or sensory impairments.
    • Exclusion from individual or all benefits under SGB XIV constitutes particular hardship.
      • The application must be submitted to the competent institution at the place of residence, with the exception of vaccination injuries, where responsibility is determined by the place of vaccination.
  • Procedure

    When you apply for social compensation benefits, the social compensation institution will check whether you are entitled to hardship compensation. You will receive a notification of the decision and, if applicable, information on the benefits granted as well as other necessary evidence.

    You can apply for social compensation benefits in writing.

    • If necessary, you can make an appointment with your contact person at the pension authority or at your responsible office.
    • They will then discuss with you which documents are still missing and how the application process will continue.
    • The contact person will provide you with further documents if necessary. If necessary, complete the documents, enclose the required evidence or supporting documents and send the documents back to your responsible office.
    • Your claims will be determined ex officio on the basis of the documents and further investigations by the authority. The authority will inform you of the result in the form of a decision, which is usually sent to you by letter.
    • If entitlements to benefits have been determined, you will receive an approval notice. If no entitlements are determined, you will receive a rejection notice.

    More information

    Legal remedy:
    Appeal: An appeal can be lodged against a decision within one month of its notification. Further information regarding the procedure and the competent authority to which you can lodge an appeal can be found in the notification of your application. The appeal can be submitted in writing and electronically.

  • Necessary Documents

    • If necessary, you must provide evidence:
      • Proof of the particular severity of the damaging event, for example:
        • Evidence of the criminal proceedings (e.g. police reports, court decisions, court judgments, witness statements)
        • Evidence of the consequences of the injury
        • Proof of vaccination
      • Medical evidence of the consequences of the injury and the treatment history, for example
        • Hospital report
        • therapy report
        • Medical certificates
  • Competent Department

  • Fees / Costs

    gebührenfrei

  • Deadlines & processing time

    What deadlines must be paid attention to?

    There is no deadline.

    How long does it take to process

    Not specified.

  • Legal Bases

  • More Information

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This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.

The official information in German is complete and correct. 07.11.2025

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