Rundfunkbeitrag - Befreiung beantragen

Interstate Broadcasting Contribution Treaty of December 21, 2010 (GVOBl. Schl.-H. 2011 p. 345).

An exemption from or reduction of the broadcasting fee is only possible under certain conditions upon application.

Exemption from the broadcasting fee is possible on application for

• Recipients of social assistance,
• recipients of social benefit or unemployment benefit II,
• asylum seekers,
• persons entitled to special welfare benefits,
• BAföG recipients and recipients of vocational training assistance (who do not live with their parents),
• recipients of basic security benefits,
• recipients of care allowance and care allowances,
• deaf-blind people and recipients of assistance for the blind.

The broadcasting fee for severely disabled persons who are not exempt from the obligation to pay as recipients of one of the aforementioned benefits is reduced to one third upon application.

Procedure:

People with disabilities and the RF mark, who were exempt from the previous broadcasting fee, will be automatically switched to the reduced fee of €5.99 per month on January 1, 2013. The reduction will apply until the underlying notification expires. Anyone who was previously exempt for health reasons should check whether an exemption for the aforementioned financial reasons is possible. An exemption for financial reasons is also valid until the expiry of the underlying decision.

If you apply for the award of the "RF" mark (= exemption from the obligation to pay the broadcasting fee) with an application for assessment in accordance with the German Social Security Code - Ninth Book - (SGB IX), you will receive an application form from the ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio (formerly: GEZ) contribution service from your responsible pension office if required. You can also download this form online from the Beitragsservice website. To avoid any legal disadvantages, please complete, sign and forward it to the Contribution Service as soon as possible.

An overview of the details of the reasons and requirements for exemption and more detailed explanations of the reduction can be found on the Beitragsservice website.

The application for exemption or reduction must be submitted in writing to the Beitragsservice. Proof of the requirements for exemption or reduction must be provided in the form of the original confirmation from the authority or the service provider or the original or certified copy of the relevant notification.

A medical certificate is sufficient for deaf-blind persons.

None

The broadcasting fee exemption or reduction begins at the earliest on the first of the month in which the validity period of the notification of the social benefit or the RF mark begins, if the application is submitted within two months of the date of issue of the notification.
If the application is submitted at a later date, the exemption or reduction begins on the first day of the month following the submission of the application.

The online portal "Der neue Rundfunkbeitrag" is the first port of call. There you will find all the necessary forms and online help.

If you have any questions about the new regulations, you can contact the Beitragsservice using the contact form on the website or by telephone on 018 59995 0888.

Application forms are available on the Beitragsservice website.

The forms are often also kept ready for you by the municipal, district or city administrations.