For parents who are dependent on welfare benefits, it is often difficult to offer their children the same opportunities in their free time or at school as children from families with higher incomes. However, children and young people in need are also entitled to take part in day trips and communal lunches at school and daycare, as well as music, sports, and games in clubs and groups. This is where the education and participation benefits of the so-called education package come in. Up to 2.5 million children and young people can benefit from the education package.

The support covers the following areas:

Up to the age of 18:

• Participation in social and cultural life, for example in sports clubs or music schools, is subsidized with up to EUR 15.00 per month.

Up to the age of 25:

• Personal school supplies are subsidized with EUR 174.00 per year (EUR 116.00 for the first half of the school year and EUR 58.00 for the second half).
• The costs of additional appropriate learning support are covered, insofar as this is necessary to achieve the learning objectives set out in school regulations.
• For one-day trips organized by schools, daycare centers, and child daycare facilities, the actual costs are reimbursed.
• For multi-day excursions by daycare centers and in daycare, as well as for school trips within the framework of school regulations, the actual costs are covered.
• Subsidies are paid for communal lunches for schoolchildren (if the school is responsible) and for children in daycare centers and daycare facilities.
• The actual costs of transportation to the nearest school of the chosen educational program (monthly student tickets) are covered.

• Children and young people up to the age of 25 are eligible to apply
  • who cannot cover their educational and participation needs from their own income and assets or their family's income and assets and who are therefore entitled to 
    • basic income support for job seekers or 
    • social assistance
    • benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act 
  • or whose families receive the following benefits:
    • child supplement or
    • housing allowance
• Age limit for benefits for participation in culture, sports, and leisure activities: 18 years

You can receive benefits for education and participation upon application.

• If possible, check with the relevant authority in advance to find out the easiest way to apply for benefits from the education package. The staff will also help you with the application process if you wish.
• Fill out the necessary forms, sign the application, and compile the required supporting documents. 
  • Note: If you receive citizen's income, benefits for education and participation are applied for together with the application for citizen's income. This also applies to benefits that serve to support your child's learning.
• Send the completed application documents by mail to the responsible office or hand them in there in person.
• You will receive written notification of whether and which services your child can take advantage of.

Note:

The implementation of the education package is organized locally in the districts and independent cities and may differ from the procedures described above. However, the following generally applies: Those who receive citizen's income usually contact the job center for benefits from the education package. The same applies to cases of so-called needs-based triggering. The education package is also implemented by the districts and independent cities at the job center. There you will also receive information if the education package is administered outside the job center. Job centers are not responsible for families who receive social assistance, housing allowance, child supplement, or benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act. The districts or independent cities (which can be reached, for example, at the town hall, the citizens' office, or the district administration) will tell you who to contact.

The legal recourse available to applicants is outlined in the respective decision on the application.

• Validity period: 12 months
  Entitlement to benefits under the Education and Participation Package in accordance with the Federal Child Benefit Act (for families receiving child allowance or housing benefit) expires 12 months after the end of the calendar month in which it arose.

• If applicable, provide the child benefit number
• Proof of financial need, for example through a notice regarding:
  • Child supplement
  • housing allowance
  • Benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act
• If applicable, invoices, receipts, and other evidence
• If necessary, certificates from the school

The responsible authority will inform you of any other documents that may be required.

There are no costs involved.

Forms available: No

Written form required: No

Informal application possible: Yes

Personal appearance required: Yes

Online services available: No