Benefits for education and participation when receiving benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act

You can receive financial support through benefits under the education and participation package. This helps you to take part in school, daycare, childcare and leisure activities as well as meals and transportation. The support is aimed at children, young people and young adults.

You can receive support if you are entitled to

• benefits according to the AsylbLG or if you
• cannot cover the necessary requirements from your own income and assets or
• that of your family.

Funding is possible under certain conditions for the following areas:

• Excursions as well as one-day and multi-day trips from schools and daycare centers
  Assumption of the actual costs for participation in excursions and trips lasting one or more days by schools, day care centers or child day care facilities. School trips must take place within the framework of school regulations. The costs are covered in the form of personalized vouchers, direct payments to the service provider or cash benefits.
• Personal school supplies

Funding for personal school supplies, such as writing, arithmetic and drawing materials, sportswear and school bags. The amount of support differs between the first half of the school year and the second half of the school year and is adjusted annually. If you receive benefits according to SGB II, SGB XII or AsylbLG, you are automatically eligible for the grant.

Payment is made automatically as part of these benefits and you do not need to submit a separate application. Only if you do not automatically receive the grant for personal school supplies do you need to apply for it. This may be the case for children under the age of 7 or over the age of 15, for example, as a school certificate may be required.

• School transport

If you are dependent on school transport, you can be reimbursed for the actual costs of attending the nearest school of the chosen course of education. The prerequisite for this is that the transportation or the costs are not covered by a third party, such as the school authority. The distance between the place of residence or the school or institution is regulated at state or municipal level and is therefore not eligible for funding, as it does not have to be covered by public transport. Depending on the type of school, there may be differences in the relevant distance (e.g. differences between primary school pupils and secondary school pupils).

• Learning support

Learning support to supplement school lessons in order to achieve the learning objectives. The prerequisite is that there are no comparable school offers or other forms of support, e.g. from the youth welfare office. The costs are covered by personalized vouchers, direct payments to the provider of the service or cash benefits.

• Lunchtime meals in daycare centers and schools

If lunchtime meals are provided by the daycare center or school and are eaten communally, the costs can be covered by personalized vouchers, direct payments to the service provider or cash benefits. Lunch at school must be the responsibility of the school.

• Participation in social and cultural life

A monthly grant for participation in social and cultural life in the community. You can receive a grant of currently EUR 15 per month for actual expenses if you have not yet reached the age of 18. The monthly grant can be provided for activities in the areas of sport, games, culture and socializing (e.g. membership fees), lessons in artistic subjects (e.g. music lessons), guided cultural activities (e.g. educational museum offers) and participation in extracurricular leisure activities (e.g. a vacation camp during the school vacations or baby swimming). The extracurricular leisure activities must be organized and supervised by a provider. In individual cases, it may be possible to save up the grant within the approval period. The amount saved can be used, for example, for a vacation camp or for equipment. Please contact your responsible office for advice. The costs are covered by personalized vouchers, direct payments to the service provider or cash benefits.

• If you receive benefits in accordance with the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act (AsylbLG), you do not need to submit an application. During the approval period for benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act, you only need to enclose proofof the desired education and participation benefits. An exception is the application for learning support. A separate application must be submitted for this in cases of need.
• Notificationof receipt of benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (AsylbLG) (as PDF or in writing)
• Depending on the area of support: Invoices, receipts and other evidence (as PDF or in written form)
• If applicable: School certificate (as PDF or in written form)
• If applicable: Power of attorney if the application is made on behalf of a representative (as a PDF or in writing)

The processing time depends on the specifics of the individual case. The law stipulates a processing period of 3 months.