Rundfunkbeitrag im privaten Bereich - 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.

• Upon receipt of social benefits
  • Original proof of receipt of one of the aforementioned social benefits (notice of grant or certificate from the social benefit agency)
• in case of deaf-blindness:
  • Current medical certificate of deaf-blindness in the original or
  • Severely handicapped person's identity card with the mark "Bl" and "Gl" or
  • Certificate of the pension office about the degree of hearing and visual impairment
• in case of receiving aid for the blind
  • Current notice of grant or certificate of the authority about the receipt of benefits according to § 72 Twelfth Book of the Social Code (SGB XII) or §27d Federal Supply Act (BVG)
• in cases of hardship
  • the notice of refusal from the social benefits agency in the event that the income limit is slightly exceeded as a special case of hardship
• if necessary, further proofs

If you send in the original notice of approval, 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 back the certificate from the authority or the benefit provider. You do not have to mark the original severely disabled person's ID card. You will receive it back without being asked.

• They receive government social benefits, such as:
  • Unemployment benefit II
  • Social assistance
  • BAföG
  • Basic income support
• or you are deafblind
• or receive assistance for the blind.

Notes:

You can apply for exemption from the broadcasting contribution as a special case of hardship if you do not receive any social benefits because your income exceeds the respective needs limit by less than EUR 17.50.
If you are exempt from the contribution obligation, the exemption within the home also extends to your wife or husband. The same applies to your registered partner.

Application procedure and examination: none

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

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

You can fill in the Internet form online. Print it out at the end of the entry process and sign it. Attach the required supporting documents and send your documents by mail to the competent authority.

The exemption is granted at the earliest at the beginning of the month following the application.

You must submit the application for exemption within two months after the notice of approval has been issued.

You will receive the exemption from the first of the month specified as the start of benefits in the notice of approval.

The broadcasting contribution replaced the broadcasting fee on January 1, 2013.

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.

ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Contribution Service