Rundfunkbeitrag - Befreiung beantragen

If you receive state social benefits, you can be exempted from the broadcasting fee. The same applies to deaf-blind people and recipients of assistance for the blind.

Under certain conditions, it is possible to apply for an exemption from the broadcasting fee. The following conditions apply:

• You receive state social benefits, such as:
• Unemployment benefit II
• social welfare
• BAföG
• basic income support
• or you are deaf-blind
• or you receive assistance for the blind.

You can also apply for an exemption from the broadcasting fee as a special case of hardship if you do not receive any social benefits because your income exceeds the respective income threshold by less than the amount of the regular fee.

• on receipt of social benefits:
  • Proof of receipt of one of the social benefits mentioned in the original (notice of approval or certificate from the social benefit provider)
• in the case of deafblindness:
  • Current original medical certificate of deaf-blindness 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
• if you receive assistance for the blind:
  • Current notice of approval or certificate from the authority regarding receipt of benefits in accordance with § 72 of the Twelfth Book of the Social Code (SGB XII) or §27d of the Federal Pension Act (BVG)
• in cases of hardship:
  • the notice of rejection 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 approval notice, 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 benefit provider back. You do not have to mark the original severely disabled person's pass. You will receive it back without being asked.

• You receive state social benefits, for example:
  • Unemployment benefit II
  • social welfare
  • BAföG
  • basic income support
• or you are deaf-blind
• or receive assistance for the blind.

You must apply in writing to the competent authority for exemption from the broadcasting fee. Use the prescribed form for this.
You can obtain it

• from cities,
• municipalities,
• from the responsible authorities and
• on the Internet.

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

You must apply for the exemption within 2 months after the approval notice has been issued.

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

• Broadcasting fee - apply for exemption
• Exemption if you receive:
• Unemployment benefit II
• social assistance
• BAföG
• basic income support
• assistance for the blind.
• Deafblind people
• Special case of hardship with low income
• Written application required
• Form available online
• Responsible body: ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice