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Applying for benefits as part of social compensation for social participation Notlagen und Opferhilfen

Injured persons who have a disability or are at risk of a disability as a result of a recognized consequence of an injury can receive benefits for social participation.

  • Basic information

    If you have a disability, are at risk of a significant disability or have other mental, psychological, physical or sensory impairments that significantly restrict your equal participation in society due to the consequences of the injury, you can receive benefits for social participation.

    Benefits for social participation include, among other things

    • the provision of aids that facilitate independence and participation, such as wheelchairs or hearing aids,
    • curative education services for children who have not yet started school,
    • Services to promote communication,
    • Benefits for the procurement, conversion, furnishing and maintenance of the home
    • Mobility services, such as transportation services, in particular by a transport service (for people with disabilities who cannot reasonably be expected to use public transport due to the nature and severity of their disability) and services for a motor vehicle
    • Outpatient assisted living
    • Care in a foster family
    • Special forms of housing / assistance services

    People who also meet the access requirements for integration assistance for people with significant disabilities can apply for social participation benefits.

    Coordination takes place with the relevant competent authority, which will inform you which other benefits you may be eligible for.

    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, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments that restrict your equal participation in society.

  • Procedure

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

    You can apply for social compensation benefits in writing.

    • You can make an appointment with your contact person at the pension authority or at your responsible office.
    • They will then discuss with you whether you are entitled to social compensation benefits and what support services can be offered.
    • If you are entitled to social compensation benefits, your contact person will discuss the next steps with you.
    • The contact person will provide you with the relevant documents.
    • If necessary, complete the documents, enclose the required evidence or supporting documents and send the documents back to your contact person.
    • Your claims will be determined ex officio on the basis of the documents. The authority will inform you of the result in the form of a decision, which is usually sent to you by letter.
    • The eligible costs and approved cash benefits will be transferred to the account you have specified or to the account of the service provider.

    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
    • Proof of the harmful event

      For example:

      • Notice of recognition of social compensation
    • Medical evidence of the consequences of the injury

      For example:

      • Hospital report
      • Therapy report
      • Medical certificates
    • Proof of the restriction on equal participation in society

      For example:

      • Severely disabled person's pass
      • Certificate from the respective provider

  • 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

    The prerequisite for processing is that all mandatory information has been provided. The processing time varies depending on the competent authority and the individual case. It is not possible to give an exact time and it depends on the complexity of the individual case.

  • 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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