Participation in the workforce; Applying for benefits

You can apply for benefits to support participation in working life if, due to your (impending) disability or disabilities, you need assistance in finding an apprenticeship or job, or in securing your apprenticeship or job, because

• your prospects of participating in or returning to the workforce are significantly reduced—not merely temporarily—due to the nature or severity of your (impending) disability(ies), or
• you are at risk of developing a disability with the same occupational consequences.

If you are eligible for support, you can first take advantage of the general services offered by the Employment Agency:

• Job Placement Budget
• Measures for activation and vocational integration
• Vocational preparatory training
• Vocational training in off-site facilities (BaE)
• Assisted vocational training (AsA)
• Support During Vocational Training
• Support for Continuing Vocational Education
• Start-up Grant

If general benefits are not sufficient to meet your support needs, you may be eligible for the following special or supplemental support:

• Rehabilitation-specific vocational preparation programs
• Basic training required due to a disability
• Rehabilitation-specific training programs
• Rehabilitation-specific continuing education programs
• Individual on-the-job training as part of supported employment
• Intake procedures and vocational training programs in workshops for people with disabilities or at other service providers
• Training budget
• Placement support or vocational guidance provided by specialized integration services
• Case-by-case support, such as technical work aids, assistive devices, and work assistance
• other forms of assistance, participation support

What is available to you depends, among other things, on

• which of these services is best suited to you and your individual situation to
  • improve your chances of successfully finding vocational training or a job, or
  • to secure your existing apprenticeship or employment relationship,
• what your personal interests are and how you can apply them in your professional life,
• what types of work you would like to do and are capable of doing,
• how the apprenticeship and job markets are currently evolving, and
• whether you meet the respective eligibility requirements for support.

To receive these benefits, you must first submit an application for participation benefits. You can submit this application to your advisor at the relevant Employment Agency or to your placement counselor at the Job Center. Once we receive your complete application documents, your application will be reviewed. We will then discuss the next steps with you and select the support options best suited to your situation, taking your skills, interests, and aptitudes into account.

After vocational rehabilitation, we will also help you find a suitable apprenticeship or a job that fits your needs. Our goal is to enable you to participate in the workforce on a long-term basis. Your health impairment or (impending) disability should have as little impact as possible on your training or work.

In order to receive benefits from the Employment Agency to support your participation in the workforce, the following general requirements must be met:

• You have a (potential) disability.
• The Federal Employment Agency is your designated rehabilitation provider.
• Your prospects for participating in or returning to the workforce are significantly reduced—not just temporarily—due to the nature or severity of your disability.
  • Or: You are at risk of developing a disability with the same occupational consequences.
• You must contact your Employment Agency regarding financial assistance or reimbursement before any expenses are incurred.

In addition, you may need to meet further requirements for the applicable financial assistance.

To apply for benefits to support your participation in the workforce, you must contact your local Employment Agency or the Job Center with jurisdiction over your area:

• Schedule an appointment with your assigned advisor at the Employment Agency or with your case worker at the Job Center. Alternatively, you can contact the Vocational Rehabilitation and Participation Team at your local Employment Agency.
• If you do not yet have a personal contact person, please schedule an appointment by calling the toll-free service number.
• If it is determined during the consultation that you are eligible for benefits to support participation in working life, the next steps will be discussed with you, and the application form will be provided either as a printout or online. Your counselor or placement specialist will also discuss with you the necessary documents that you must include with the application.
• You submit the application and any necessary supporting documents.
• The Employment Agency will determine whether it is responsible for benefits to facilitate participation in working life or whether another rehabilitation provider is responsible. In the latter case, the application will be forwarded.
• The Employment Agency will also determine whether you are eligible for any additional participation benefits and will involve the appropriate rehabilitation providers.
• The responsible rehabilitation provider will discuss the next steps with you and work with you to identify and determine your individual rehabilitation needs. If necessary, other rehabilitation providers may be involved in this process.
• To this end, existing documentation regarding your (impending) health impairments will be reviewed, and additional specialized services will be consulted if necessary.
• Based on your specific rehabilitation needs, a decision will then be made in consultation with you regarding which specific benefits or support are appropriate for you.

The application for participation benefits must be submitted before the event giving rise to the benefits occurs.

Processing usually takes a few weeks.

• Required document(s)
  

  Please discuss with your advisor at the Employment Agency or your placement counselor at the Job Center which documents you need to include with your application for participation benefits.

There are no fees for submitting an application, processing the application, or providing counseling and placement services.