Applying for a determination of disability

You can apply for the determination of a disability online, in writing or on site at the relevant office.

Online application:

• Click on "Complete online" to go directly to the online service.
• The online service will guide you through the application process.
• If you apply via the online service, you must also print out the completed application and the declaration of consent/waiver of confidentiality, sign it and send it to the relevant office by post within 6 weeks. Otherwise the application cannot be processed.

Written application:

• You can submit the application in writing by post or by e-mail.
• Please use the appropriate application form.
  
  • Although an informal application is possible, you will need to complete the application form afterwards.
• Send the completed and signed application form together with the required documents to the relevant office.
• When submitting the written application, be sure to include a signed declaration of consent/waiver of confidentiality. Otherwise the application cannot be processed.

Applying on site

• You can also submit the application on site at the relevant office during opening hours.
• Please bring the required documents with you.

Once the application has been checked, the responsible office will issue a notice of assessment.
The assessment notice will state the following:

• the individual disabilities,
• the degree of disability and
• the other health features (characteristics)

This notice will also be issued if the degree of severe disability determined is less than 50.

If you are determined to have a degree of disability of at least 50, you are entitled to be issued with a severely disabled person's pass.

If you apply to the competent authority for a disability certificate, you will automatically be issued with a severely disabled person's ID card if your degree of disability is at least 50, provided you already have a passport photo.

More information

• In the case of a severely disabled person, it is often the case that several health disorders coincide (multiple disabilities).
• The health disorders can exist independently of each other, but they can also overlap and reinforce each other. The mutual relationships between the individual health disorders are taken into account when determining the degree of disability.

Support in preparing the application is available from

Sozialverband VdK, Am Wall 196 a, 28195 Bremen, Tel. 0421 1654817
Sozialverband SoVd, Breitenweg 10-12, 28195 Bremen, Tel. 0421 1638490
Sozialverband SoVd, Barkhausenstr. 22, 27568 Bremerhaven, Tel. 0471 28006

• If the degree of disability is 30 or 40, there is the possibility of equalization with the employment agency. However, this only applies if you cannot obtain or keep a suitable job without equalization. You can obtain further information on equalization from your local employment agency.
• The severely disabled person's pass of deceased persons must be returned. A copy of the death certificate must be enclosed with the card.
• Persons with severe disabilities are entitled to have an accompanying person with them when using public transport if they are regularly dependent on help from others to avoid danger to themselves or others as a result of their disability. The individual case must always be examined.
• When an official application is made for a severely disabled person's pass, the parking facilitation will be checked immediately if the "aG" mark has been ticked in the application. Otherwise, please send an informal letter requesting a review or call the relevant office to ask for approval of the parking facilitation.

Responsibility of the AVIB abroad

The AVIB is responsible for the following non-European countries for applications in the severely disabled procedure in accordance with the German Social Code Ninth Book (SGB IX):

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Grenada
• Jamaica
• Canada
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• United States of America

In which cases does the AVIB become involved?

• According to Section 2 of the Ninth Book of the German Social Code (SGB IX), people are severely disabled if they have a degree of disability of at least 50 and are legally resident, ordinarily resident or employed within the area of application of this code.
• According to the intention of the legislator, SGB IX should therefore only apply to people in the Federal Republic of Germany.
• There are two exceptions to this rule:
  
  • 1. you are liable to pay tax in the Federal Republic and require proof to claim a so-called lump sum for severely disabled persons under income tax law .
  • 2. claiming an early retirement pension for severely disabled persons from the statutory pension insurance scheme - but only for nationals of a member state of the European Union or a contracting state of the European Economic Area.
• In this case, a special interest in a determination would have to be substantiated.
• If the check then reveals that a severe disability exists, a certificate would be issued as proof for submission to the tax office or pension insurance.
• A severely disabled person's pass cannot be issued.

Legal remedy:

• Appeal
• Legal action

• Informal application for determination of a disability
  
  • An informal application is possible. However, you will need to complete the application form afterwards.
• Application form from the competent authority
• If available:
  
  • other proof of the degree of disability (e.g. pension certificate or corresponding administrative or court decision)
  • Relevant medical documents, for example expert opinions
• By proxy:
  
  • Power of attorney or ID of the person providing care.
• For applicants without citizenship of an EU member state:
  
  • Proof of legal residence.

• Application for determination of a disability (initial or new application)
  

• Determination of the status of severely disabled person First application (pdf, 634.5 KB)
  

• Determination of the status of severely disabled person Application for re-assessment (pdf, 885.0 KB)
  

• Application supplement (docx, 23.0 KB)
  

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What deadlines must be paid attention to?

There is no deadline.

How long does it take to process

6 months We would like to process your application as quickly as possible. It currently takes around 6 months to process an application for a disability.
This is an average value.
Please bear in mind that we are dependent on the prompt submission of meaningful diagnostic documents for the determination. The AVIB has no influence on the time it takes to send them.
In addition, every application must be submitted to the AVIB's medical service after receipt of all the necessary documents for the assessment of the existing illnesses, which will carry out a medical assessment to determine the degree of disability and, if applicable, which markings are to be awarded. The AVIB's medical service is therefore responsible for all medical opinions of the office, including the process of determining a disability, and is unfortunately also indispensable for the process.
Due to a still existing but steadily decreasing processing backlog in the AVIB's medical care service, the average processing time of 6 months stated above is currently still to be expected. We ask for your understanding and patience for this current waiting time.

• § 152 Sozialgesetzbuch Neuntes Buch (SGB IX)
• § 2 Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB) IX

• Behinderung und Ausweis
• Merkblatt zum Antrag auf einen Schwerbehindertenausweis
• Merkblatt zum Neufeststellungsantrag auf einen Schwerbehindertenausweis
• DSGVO-Informationen zu den Anträgen auf Anerkennung einer Schwerbehinderung