Apply for basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity

Social welfare office of your district or independent city

Local or regional social welfare agency
or social services office

You can receive basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity if

• you are of legal age and
• either
  • can only work less than 3 hours a day for an unforeseeable period of time or
  • have reached the standard retirement age - this age limit has been gradually rising from 65 to 67 since 2012 - and
• you are unable to earn your own living and
• you receive no - or insufficient - benefits from insurance and pension schemes and
• you have your habitual residence in the Federal Republic of Germany.

You can also receive basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity if you

• undergo the entry procedure and the vocational training programme in a workshop for people with disabilities or with another service provider, or

• are in a training relationship for which you receive a budget for training.

Information in the application must be supported by evidence, for example:

• Copy of an identity document:
  • identity card or
  • Passport or
  • Residence permit
• Proof of permanent and full reduction in earning capacity
• Proof of your income:
  • Pension certificates
  • Child benefit
  • Maintenance payments
  • Under certain circumstances, the partner's earned income
• Proof of existing assets:
  • Savings balance
  • Life insurance
• Evidence of expenditure:
  • Rental agreement
  • Heating costs
  • Documents on insurance amounts

Please refer to the information sheets that you will receive when you submit your application for details of the evidence that is required.

The competent authority may request additional or fewer documents.

• Chapter Four, Book Twelve of the German Social Code (SGB XII)

• Appeal: Further information on how to lodge an appeal can be found in the notification of your application
• Action for rescission, action for an obligation and action for performance

As a person entitled to benefits, you are obliged to help yourself and to make use of other social benefits first if this means that you can minimise your need for assistance.

• avoid,
• eliminate,
• shorten or
• can be reduced.

This includes, for example, the following services:

• Pension
• Housing benefit
• Claims against third parties, for example maintenance payments.

You should only claim basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity once you have exhausted these social benefits.

• Guideline of the Federal Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs
• FAQs of the German Pension Insurance

• Social benefit that secures the basic living expenses of older people who have exceeded the age limit for a standard old-age pension (65 - 67 years) or persons who are permanently fully disabled after reaching the age of 18
• The applicant can also receive benefits for the period in which he or she
  • is undergoing the initial assessment and vocational
    training at a workshop for disabled persons or another service provider, or
  • is in a training relationship for which they receive a budget for training
• The person must be in need of assistance and have their habitual residence in Germany
• The amount of basic income support depends on individual needs and available income and assets
• Basic income support basically covers various needs:
  • Relevant standard requirement
  • Needs for accommodation and heating, if appropriate
  • additional requirements, for example:
    • Additional requirements for:
      • Possession of a severely disabled person's pass with mark G,
      • illness, if a special diet is required for medical reasons, or
      • Pregnancy
    • One-off special situations, such as initial furnishings for the home
• Needs for health or long-term care insurance

• Apply for basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity (social assistance) in Saxony-Anhalt

  Display of performance in the source portal