Basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity according to SGB XII

  • Performance specification

    Anyone who has reached the age limit (65 years or older, depending on the individual case) or is permanently fully incapacitated for work as an adult for health reasons can receive basic security benefits in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity.
    Basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity is intended to ensure the necessary means of subsistence - just like assistance with living expenses. This applies in particular to the costs of food, accommodation, clothing, personal hygiene, household effects, heating and personal everyday needs such as the telephone, newspaper or going to a concert.

    Benefits for care home residents
    If the person concerned lives in a care home, home for the disabled or retirement home, they receive an amount for the costs of accommodation and heating. The calculation is based on the average costs of a single-person household in the area of the respective organisation.

    Scope of basic security

    The amount of the benefit depends on the level of need; the competent authority must take into account the applicant's own income and assets when calculating the benefit.

    Relatives are only liable for any maintenance obligations in the case of basic income support (in contrast to subsistence assistance) if their annual income exceeds 100,000.00 euros. The legislator has excluded so-called heir liability, meaning that heirs are not obliged to reimburse any costs incurred for basic security benefits.

    These regulations are intended to make it easier for those affected to make use of the assistance.

    Neediness

    The persons concerned must be in need, i.e. their income and assets (or those of their spouse/partner) must not be sufficient to ensure the necessary means of subsistence.

    If the person in need of assistance has dependent parents or children, their annual income must not exceed 100,000.00 euros.

  • Process flow

    Application

    In order to receive benefits from the basic income support in old age and in case of reduced earning capacity, you as the person concerned or his/her legal representative must submit a written application.

    You can obtain the application forms from the competent authority; forms and information sheets are also available on the Internet, depending on what the authority offers (access via "Forms/Online services" in the right-hand margin or on request from the competent authority).
    Submit the completed application form together with the required supporting documents to the competent authority.
    You will receive written notification as to whether and to what extent the application has been approved.

    Examination of the incapacity to work

    If it needs to be clarified whether there is a permanent full reduction in earning capacity, the competent office will contact the responsible pension insurance institution.

  • Legal basis

  • Comments

  • Typing

    2/3

  • Library entry status

    5

Start your request directly online

Who do I need to contact?

The local and supra-local social welfare organisations are responsible for granting basic security benefits in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity.

Responsible departments

Responsible staff