Education; Applying for a Loan or Grant

During an in-company or out-of-company apprenticeship, or, for example, a vocational preparation program, you may be eligible for supplemental citizen’s income. However, you should prioritize claiming vocational training assistance or an apprenticeship stipend.

The same applies if you are a student in a school-based program and receive benefits under the BAföG. Even if you receive BAföG during your studies and live in your parents’ household, you may be eligible for supplemental citizen’s income. The following benefits are therefore not relevant to you.

If you are a student and do not live with your parents, are in vocational training and are not eligible for training assistance under the BAföG (for example, because you have exceeded the maximum funding period or the age limit), or are in vocational training and live in a boarding school, you may be eligible for the following benefits:

Benefits for Additional Needs

Under certain conditions, you can apply for a supplement for so-called additional needs in addition to educational assistance (such as BAföG benefits). These include:

• Additional needs for expectant mothers
• Additional needs for single parents
• Additional needs for medically necessary, high-cost nutrition
• Additional needs where, in individual cases, there is an undeniable, ongoing, and not merely one-time special need (for example, costs associated with exercising visitation rights)

If your income exceeds your standard needs and the costs of your housing and heating, the excess amount reduces the benefit for additional needs.

Initial Provision for Pregnancy and Childbirth

If you are pregnant or have given birth to a child, you are entitled to additional financial support for initial necessities, such as clothing or furniture. This is contingent upon you being in a financial emergency.

Loans forCases of Extreme Hardship

In particularly difficult circumstances, you may be eligible for a loan during your education. This is possible if exceptional, serious circumstances jeopardize your education and/or place you in an emergency situation that threatens your livelihood.

You can receive a hardship loan if you do not receive BAföG or if your BAföG benefits are insufficient to cover your living expenses and you are unable to remedy the situation by taking on paid work.

You must repay the interest-free hardship loan after completing your education.

Hardship Grant

If, as a student in a school-based program, you do not receive educational assistance because you have exceeded certain age limits and are in a hardship situation, you may be eligible for a grant under certain circumstances if it is absolutely necessary for your integration into the workforce. The grant may be paid for

• basic and additional needs,
• expenses for housing and heating,
• health and long-term care insurance premiums.

The age limit for educational assistance is generally 45 years; further exceptions are possible.

Students are not eligible for a hardship grant, but only for a hardship loan.

Transitional Loan

If you are already receiving basic income support benefits and are starting a training program, you may be eligible for a transitional loan for the first month. This loan can help you bridge a financial gap until you receive your first training stipend or training support. It prevents your start of training from being jeopardized. It is granted only for the first month of training and paid at the beginning of the month. The amount is based on the basic income benefit.

You must repay this interest-free loan after completing your training.

If you find yourself in a financial emergency at the start of or during your apprenticeship, you can apply for benefits for apprentices. The following applies:

GeneralInformation

• As a trainee, you are not eligible for social benefits such as the citizen’s income, and
• you are in a financial emergency and
• you are unable to cover your living expenses on your own.

Generally, the following individuals are eligible for the benefits mentioned:

• • Students who do not live with their parents
  • Trainees who have reached the statutory BAföG age limit
  • Trainees in vocational training or a vocational preparatory program who are housed with full board
    • at a boarding school or
    • in a dormitory.
• Trainees with disabilities who are eligible for a training allowance—for example, during vocational training, a vocational preparatory program, or basic training—and who are housed
  • in a boarding school,
  • in a dormitory, or
  • in a special facility for people with disabilities,

provided that the costs for lodging and meals are covered by the Employment Agency or another funding agency.

Loans in General

• Without a loan, financial reasons would jeopardize the start of your training or its successful completion.

HardshipLoans

• You are unable to earn additional income through a part-time job, for example because
  • you are a single parent, or
  • you have a disability, or
  • you are caring for a family member, or
  • your residence permit in Germany does not allow it.
• You may be classified as a hardship case if exceptional, serious circumstances jeopardize your education and/or place you in an emergency situation that threatens your livelihood.

Hardship Grant

• You are at least 45 years old and, as a result, are no longer eligible for BAföG due to your age, and
• you are enrolled in a school-based training program—without which your professional integration would be seriously jeopardized—but you are not enrolled in a university program.
• You may be classified as a hardship case if exceptional, serious circumstances jeopardize your education and/or you find yourself in an emergency situation that threatens your livelihood.

You must apply for a loan or a grant. You can submit an informal application. Alternatively, you can also apply using the online application form for the citizen’s income.

• Contact the Job Center responsible for your place of residence to find out about the application process.
• You must apply for benefits to cover additional needs. Application forms are available for this purpose; you can pick them up at the Jobcenter or have them mailed to you. The forms are also available online.
• To apply for a loan, a hardship grant, or an initial supply of necessities for pregnancy and childbirth, your local Jobcenter may use a separate application form. Your Jobcenter will inform you which documents you need to submit for your specific case.
• Fill out the application form.
• If you are not yet of legal age, have a parent or legal guardian sign the application.
• The Job Center will review your application.
• The Job Center will review your financial and income situation.
• The Job Center will make a decision on a case-by-case basis. 
  • Hardship Grant: The responsible placement specialist will determine whether you meet the requirements for a grant.
• You will receive a notice informing you whether your application has been approved or denied.
• If you are granted a loan, the Job Center will work with you to determine when and how you will repay the money.

There is no deadline. However, benefits are not granted until the first day of the month in which you submitted your application.

Therefore, please make sure to submit your application as soon as possible once you become aware of or foresee your financial hardship, rather than waiting until after the fact.

• Required document(s)
  
  • Application Forms:
    • The application for benefits for apprentices and students under Section 27 of SGB II may be submitted informally. It is generally submitted along with the main application (“Application for Benefits to Cover Living Expenses under Book II of the Social Code (SGB II)”). However, to ensure that the Job Center can obtain the information it needs from applicants to assess their eligibility for benefits and, if applicable, the amount of those benefits, the Job Center may provide its own forms.
  • Valid identification document:
    • Identity card or
    • valid passport with a current certificate of residence
    • Residence permit
  • Proof of income, such as a pay stub or recent bank statements (e.g., showing pension payments, sick pay, child support, alimony, advance alimony payments, training allowances, or BAföG)
  • Proof of vocational training or higher education (such as a training certificate or enrollment certificate)
  • Proof of assets (e.g., savings, stocks, securities, home savings contracts)
  • Proof of expenses, such as bank statements (or, for example, a lease agreement, rent receipts, heating bills, and documents regarding insurance premiums)
  • Proof of previous benefit receipt, including from another job center (approval notice, proof of benefits)

If you have a bank account, you will not incur any costs. If you do not have a bank account, you will receive a payment order for a cash payment (ZzV-Bar). This is a check. However, this incurs fees that will be deducted directly from your benefits. Since the amount of the fees for the payment order may vary, please check with your local Jobcenter for details. You can have the check cashed. Payments are made exclusively through Postbank branches. The ZzV-Bar is a payment instrument issued by Postbank AG, the use of which has been separately agreed upon between the Federal Employment Agency and Postbank.