Grundsicherung im Alter und bei Erwerbsminderung Bewilligung

Are you no longer able to pursue gainful employment for health or age reasons and cannot finance your necessary living expenses yourself? Then you can apply for basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity.

Basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity is part of the minimum social security systems in Germany. The benefits of the minimum social security systems guarantee a decent minimum subsistence level.

• Basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity secures the necessary means of subsistence for people in financial need.

The entitlement to and the amount of basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity depends on your individual needs and your available income and assets.

The total requirement consists of the following components:

• standard needs
• reasonable requirements for accommodation and heating
• any additional needs, for example if you can only move with restrictions or if you need a special diet for medical reasons
• any requirements for education for pupils of full age
• in individual cases, contributions to health and long-term care insurance

In addition, you will receive one-off needs in special situations, such as initial furnishings for your home.

In addition to your individual needs, your income and assets - if available - will be taken into account. This is because you must use up all of your income and assets before you receive social assistance. Exceptions are exempt amounts and protected assets.

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 the foreseeable future or
  • have reached the standard retirement age - this age limit has been gradually increasing from 65 to 67 since 2012 - and
• are unable to support themselves and
• receive no - or insufficient - benefits from insurance and pension schemes and
• 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

• are undergoing the entry procedure and vocational training 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.

There are no costs.

As a person entitled to benefits, you are obliged to help yourself and to claim other social benefits first if you can thereby avoid needing help.

• avoid,
• eliminate,
• shorten or
• reduce your need for assistance.

This includes the following benefits, for example:

• 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.

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

• Social benefit that provides basic living expenses for 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
• Applicants can also receive benefits for the period in which they
  • in a workshop for people with disabilities or with another service provider during the entry procedure and the
    vocational training 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:
  • standard needs
  • Needs for accommodation and heating, if appropriate
  • additional needs, 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