Source: BUS Sachsen-Anhalt (Linie6Plus)

Apply for one-off needs according to § 31 SGB XII

Description

If you receive assistance with living expenses or basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity, you can receive benefits for certain one-off needs.

The one-off needs include

Initial furnishings for the home including household appliances, for example
- when moving into your own home for the first time,
- after a fire in your home,
- when renting for the first time after serving a long prison sentence,
- a move from shared accommodation,
- when leaving a women's or men's home or
- after separation and division of household effects
Initial furnishings for clothing, for example
- after a house fire or flood
- during pregnancy and childbirth, this includes
  - initial baby equipment and
  - maternity clothing,
- in the event of total loss or new requirements due to exceptional circumstances. This also includes significant weight loss.
Purchase and repair of orthopaedic shoes
Repair of therapeutic devices and equipment and
Rental of therapeutic equipment, e.g. subsidizing the personal contribution if the costs are covered by health insurance and, under certain circumstances, even if the costs are not covered by health insurance.

If you do not live alone, the Social Welfare Office will take into account the total income of the members of the household in order to determine your need for assistance. For this purpose, the income of all household members living together in the same home is taken into account, provided they live together. This includes, for example

earned income
maintenance payments
Pension income

Child benefit paid for minors and any maintenance payments for a child are attributed to this child in order to cover their needs.

Certain assets are not considered to be protected assets, for example

Smaller amounts of cash and financial assets
- per adult: EUR 10,000,
- EUR 500 per child or
an appropriate house property.

These are not taken into account in the calculation of benefits.

The one-off benefit can also be granted without an application if your responsible social welfare office has been informed that you are in need and the requirements for benefits for subsistence are met. If you receive basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity, you must submit an application for benefits for one-off needs.

Apart from a few exceptional cases, you will not receive benefits for past periods.

Prerequisites

You are in need of assistance, i.e. you cannot fully cover your one-off needs from your own resources and strength.
You have reached the age limit for the standard old-age pension or are over 18 years old and unable to work because you are temporarily or permanently fully incapacitated for work:
- You are temporarily fully incapacitated for work if you are unable to work regularly for at least 3 hours a day under the usual conditions of the general labor market for the foreseeable future, i.e. for more than 6 months.
You are under 15 years old and live
- together with people who receive social assistance themselves, for example with your parents,
- in a household with your grandparents or in the care of relatives, without being granted benefits from economic youth welfare.
You are not a student or trainee.
You do not receive:
- Citizen's allowance, i.e. basic income support for jobseekers under Book II of the German Social Code (SGB II) or
- benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.

Required documents

Valid identity card or passport, confirmation of registration if applicable
Proof of a temporary or permanent full reduction in earning capacity
Proof of income, for example:
- Pension,
- sickness benefit,
- child benefit,
- maintenance payments or
- advance maintenance payments
Proof of assets, for example
- bank statements and
- savings balances
Tenancy agreement and subsequent changes, especially with regard to the rent amount
Proof of expenditure:
- Rent amount and rent payment
- Advance payments and statements for service charges and heating costs
- Documents on insurance premiums
Proof of health and long-term care insurance, i.e:
- Details of health insurance company and insurance status or
- Contract for private health and long-term care insurance

The scope of the documents required, especially for proof of income and assets, depends on the individual case. Your local social welfare office may request further documents from you, for example
- current bank statements,
- divorce decrees,
- contracts for the transfer of assets or
- maintenance titles.

Fees (costs)

There are no costs.

Processing time

The processing time depends on the individual case. The responsible social welfare office will take care of the processing as quickly as possible. You can shorten the processing time if you submit all documents to the social welfare office promptly and in full.