Apply for benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act (Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz)
The following benefits are possible:
- Basic benefits to cover the necessary needs for food, accommodation, heating, clothing, health care and household durables and consumables, as well as to cover personal needs of daily living
- Benefits in case of illness, pregnancy and childbirth
- other benefits
- Benefits in special cases
You will receive these benefits in kind and/or in cash.
Restrictions may apply, for example if you
- you are subject to an enforceable obligation to leave the country and have not left Germany for reasons for which you are responsible, despite a fixed departure date and a fixed possibility of leaving the country
- you are subject to an enforceable obligation to leave the country or have been tolerated and have entered Germany in order to receive benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act (Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz)
- are subject to an enforceable obligation to leave the country or have been tolerated and for reasons for which you are responsible measures to terminate your stay cannot be carried out
- are in possession of a residence permit or have filed a follow-up or confirmatory application for asylum and do not fulfil certain obligations to cooperate in the asylum procedure
- intentionally or negligently do not declare existing assets or do not immediately report changes in their financial situation
- are in possession of a residence permit or are subject to an enforceable obligation to leave the country and another state is responsible for the implementation of your asylum procedure in accordance with the Dublin III Regulation and your deportation to this state has been ordered by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees
- you refuse a work opportunity or a refugee integration measure without justification despite being able to work.
The entitlement to benefits ends
- upon departure from the country or
- at the end of the month in which the The month in which the benefit condition ceases to apply.
Prerequisite
You are a foreigner residing in Germany and meet one of the following requirements:
- You have a residence permit according to the Asylum Act.
- You have made an application for asylum, but no proof of arrival has yet been issued.
- You want to enter the country via an airport and you are not or not yet permitted to enter the country.
- You have one of the residence permits expressly mentioned in Section 1 (1) No. 3 of the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act.
- You have a toleration pursuant to Section 60a of the Residence Act.
- You are subject to an enforceable obligation to leave the country, even if a threat of deportation is not yet or no longer enforceable.
- You are the husband/wife, life partner or minor child of the aforementioned persons, without yourself fulfilling the requirements mentioned there.
- You have filed a subsequent or confirmatory application under section 71 or section 71a of the Asylum Act.
In addition, you must use up disposable income and assets above the statutory tax-free amount before you can claim benefits.
Responsible department
during the period of initial reception:
- the Regierungspräsidium (regional council) responsible for your initial reception centre
during the period of temporary accommodation/additional accommodation:
- if you live in a city district: the city administration
- otherwise: the district administration responsible for your place of residence
Procedure
As a rule, you must first contact the competent office and submit an application there.
They will check whether the conditions for benefits are met.
If you are entitled to benefits, you will receive benefits in kind and/or cash benefits.
Deadlines
You will only receive benefits after the competent body has determined that the conditions for benefits have been met. You should therefore contact the competent office as soon as possible.
Required documents
If possible, you should present the following documents:
- valid passport and proof of your status under aliens law (e.g. permission, toleration)
- Proof of any income at the time of application (e.g. payslip)
- Proof of assets
The competent authority may request further documents. You must state all facts which are relevant for the granting of asylum seeker benefits. As soon as changes occur, you must inform the competent office.
Costs
none
Processing time
case-related
Miscellaneous
none
Appeal
s. if applicable, notification from the office responsible for you
Release note
The German original version of this text was drafted in close cooperation with the relevant departments. The Department of Justice Baden-Wuerttemberg released it on 13.07.2023. Only the German text is legally binding. The Federal State does not assume any liability for the translated texts.
In cases of doubt or if you have any questions or problems, please contact the relevant authorities directly.