Politische Häftlinge Unterstützung beantragen

The Prisoner Assistance Act opens up numerous assistance options for you as a victim to claim social compensation benefits. You must apply for these.

The Prisoners' Assistance Act regulates financial compensation for persons of German nationality who were taken into custody for political reasons in the Soviet Occupation Zone (SBZ) or in the Soviet sector of Berlin or in the states of the Eastern Bloc after World War II, as well as for their relatives and survivors.

If a person suffers an injury while in custody, he or she receives benefits in analogous application of the provisions of the Federal Pensions Act. Benefits are also paid to survivors if the detention resulted in the death of the detainee .

The care may take the form of a monthly pension. Depending on the degree of injury determined (GdS), this includes

• non-income-related benefits, such as basic pension, care allowance, severely disabled person's allowance, clothing allowance, as well as
• income-related benefits, such as compensatory pension, spouse's supplement, occupational injury compensation.

Rehabilitation certificate

• Certificate according to § 10 para. 4 of the Prisoner Assistance Act (HHG)
• Identity card, birth certificate or registration certificate
• SV identity cards of the former GDR
• Details of doctors who treated you in the past and currently

Health damage during imprisonment

There are no fees to pay.

The supply is granted only upon application. The application can initially also be made informally.

Note: The right to make an initial application is a personal right and must always be exercised by the victim in person. Exceptions to this are guardians/ proxies/ legal representatives.

Rarely under 12 months

There are none for the application to consider. However, the start of the granting of pension benefits depends on the date of application.

Compensation is also paid for damage to health caused by an unsuccessful escape attempt at the inner-German border or by blocking measures at the demarcation lines.

Appeal; the appeal authority is the Thuringian State Administration Office, Department 600.

• Damaged Persons' Benefits under the Prisoners' Assistance Act Granting
• Prisoner Assistance Act regulates financial compensation benefits for persons of German nationality who, after the Second World War
  • in the Soviet occupation zone (SBZ)
  • in the Soviet sector of Berlin
  • in the states of the Eastern Bloc
• were taken into custody for political reasons
• Relatives and surviving dependents are also entitled to claim compensation
• Written application of the damaged person(s) is necessary.
• The right of first application is a personal right and must be exercised personally by the victim. Exceptions to this are guardians/ proxies/ legal representatives.
• Responsible: Thuringian State Administration Office, Department VI

Contact the Thuringian State Administration Office, Department VI.

There is no online procedure, there is a written form requirement.