Technisches Hilfswerk Freistellung

If privately employed or self-employed people volunteer with the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), they must not suffer any disadvantages as a result.

Volunteering for the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) should be as compatible as possible with working hours. Events that give rise to deployments do not only happen after work or during vacation periods, but also during working hours.

If you employ people who work as THW volunteers, you should always agree with your employees in advance how and when assignments are possible.

Privately employed THW helpers will continue to receive their salary as usual regardless of a THW assignment. This applies to ordered deployments, exercises, training courses and other training events.

Private employers have the option of applying for reimbursement of the salary continued to be paid during a THW assignment if they are absent for more than two hours a day or more than seven hours within two weeks for the entire period of absence.

Self-employed persons have the option of applying for compensation for loss of earnings as a result of their assignment.

The above applications must be submitted to the responsible THW local association or the responsible THW regional office.

THW helpers who receive benefits from the Federal Employment Agency, social assistance or other benefits from public funds will continue to receive these benefits as usual regardless of a THW deployment. Public employers will not be reimbursed for the loss of benefits.

The following must be submitted with the application:

• from the private employer:
  • Application for reimbursement of costs
  • Proof of salary and regular working hours
  • with payslips
• for self-employed persons:
  • Application for reimbursement of costs
  • Trade license,
  • Proof of income and regular working hours
  • If applicable: confirmation letter from the tax office or annual statements

Applications can be submitted by

• private employers
• Professionally self-employed persons

none

Applications from private employers to the THW Federal Agency for the reimbursement of wages paid during a THW assignment must be submitted in writing to the responsible THW local association or the responsible THW regional office (i.e. sent by post or submitted on site).

• As an employer, you will receive an unsolicited letter of exemption from THW beforehand.
• This letter is accompanied by a reimbursement application form to be completed by the private employer.
• Please complete this application and send it to the THW local association responsible for the employee in question.

As a rule, THW will then transfer the reimbursement amount for the relevant period to you within 4 weeks of receiving the application.

Maximum 4 weeks

Loss of earnings or continued benefits can be settled up to 3 years (according to BGB) after the end of the assignment.

You will receive unsolicited forms at the end of your assignment.

• Contradiction

• Technical relief organization time off
• Volunteers of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) must be released from work by their employer for missions during working hours
• If they are absent for more than two hours a day or more than seven hours within two weeks, the THW will reimburse the private employer for the entire period of absence.
• Applications can be submitted:
  • private employers
  • Professionally self-employed persons (loss of earnings)
• Helpers will continue to receive their salary.
• This also applies accordingly to people who receive benefits from the Federal Employment Agency, social assistance or other benefits from public funds
• No reimbursement possible for public employers
• Opportunities for time off during working hours should be agreed in advance between the employer and employee if possible
• Information from: responsible THW local association or responsible THW regional office
• Application via: Application must be submitted to the responsible THW local association or the responsible THW regional office
• responsible: Federal Agency for Technical Relief

• Forms: Application for reimbursement of expenses. Forms will be sent to you automatically after the end of the assignment.
• Online procedure possible: no
• Written form required: yes
• Personal appearance required: no