Broadcasting licence fee - apply for exemption

You must apply for exemption from the broadcasting licence fee in writing to the relevant authority. Please use the prescribed form for this purpose.
You can obtain it

• for cities,
• for municipalities,
• with the competent authorities and
• on the Internet.

You can complete the Internet form online. Print it out at the end of the submission process and sign it. Enclose the required supporting documents and send your documents to the relevant office by post.

• You receive state social benefits, for example:
  • Unemployment benefit II
  • Social assistance
  • BAföG
  • Basic security
• or you are deafblind
• or receive assistance for the blind.

• on receipt of social benefits:
  • Proof of receipt of one of the above-mentioned social benefits in the original (notice of authorisation or certificate from the social benefit provider)
• for deafblindness:
  • current medical certificate of deafblindness in the original or
  • Severely disabled person's pass with the mark "Bl" and "Gl" or
  • Certificate from the pension office on the degree of hearing and visual impairment
• on receipt of assistance for the blind:
  • Current notice of authorisation or certificate from the authority regarding receipt of benefits in accordance with Section 72 of the Twelfth Book of the Social Code (SGB XII) or Section 27d of the Federal Pension Act (BVG)
• in cases of hardship:
  • the rejection notice from the social benefits provider if the income limit is slightly exceeded as a case of particular hardship
  • Further evidence as required

If you send in the original letter of authorisation, please mark it with the word "Original". Otherwise, you may not receive it back, as all incoming mail is destroyed after digital archiving.

You will not receive the certificate from the authority or the service provider back. You do not have to mark the original severely disabled person's pass. You will receive it back without being asked.

• § Section 4 (1) of the Interstate Broadcasting Treaty (RBStV)

• Application for exemption or reduction

If you receive an exemption, this also extends to your wife or husband within the home. The same applies to your registered partner.

• Information material from the Beitragsservice for citizens

• Broadcasting licence fee - apply for exemption
• Exemption for the purchase of:
• Unemployment benefit II
• Social assistance
• BAföG
• Basic security
• Aid for the blind.
• Deafblind
• Special hardship case for low income
• Written application required
• Form available online
• Responsible body: ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice

• Broadcasting licence fee - apply for exemption

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