Applying for social compensation benefits as an injured party

If you have suffered damage to your health as a result of a harmful event that occurred in Germany and for which the state community bears a special responsibility, and the event and its consequences have been recognized, you can receive financial support and compensation. Harmful events can be, for example, an act of violence (physical and psychological) or a vaccination. The compensation helps to compensate for any loss of income and to cover the costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation. Possible beneficiaries may be civilian service victims, war victims, vaccination victims or victims of violence.

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

Coordination takes place with the relevant competent authority, which will inform you which benefits you may be eligible for. These may include counseling and support services as well as benefits for medical treatment, participation, care dependency, psychotherapeutic services, pension benefits and pensions.

Requirements

• You have suffered a health impairment in Germany due to a damaging event and can prove the direct or substantial connection.
• The health impairment has resulted in physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments that continue to exist.
• You have your place of residence or habitual abode in Germany and
  
  • you were temporarily abroad at the time of the offense and suffered a damaging event there, or
  • You are temporarily resident abroad but have suffered a harmful event in Germany, or
  • You have your permanent residence abroad but have suffered a damaging event in Germany.
• The application must be submitted to the competent institution at the place of residence.
  
  • Exception: In the case of vaccination damage, responsibility depends on the place of vaccination.

What documents do I need?

• Application under the new social compensation law