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  1. ServicePortal Berlin
  2. Services
  3. Arbeit, Beruf und Soziales
  4. Applying for Assistance with the Cost of Living (Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt)

Applying for Assistance with the Cost of Living (Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt)

Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt beantragen
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.
Financial assistance for living expenses (Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt) includes: • Regelbedarf (standard needs allowance) • Costs for housing and heating • Contributions for health and long-term care insurance and for provisions • Additional needs, for example: for severe disability with mark G or aG, for expectant mothers after the 12th week of pregnancy, for single parents with one or more minor children, for costly nutrition, for decentralized hot water supply • One-time needs, for example: initial outfitting for clothing and initial outfitting for pregnancy and birth, purchase and repair of orthopedic shoes, repairs and rental of therapeutic devices and equipment

Book an appointment

Book an appointment (service.berlin.de)

Requirements

• You are not entitled to priority benefits These entitlements include, for example: • Benefits under basic income support in old age and in case of reduced earning capacity (Grundsicherung im Alter und bei Erwerbsminderung) (Chapter 4, Social Code Book Twelve (SGB XII)) • Benefits under basic income support (Sozialgeld) pursuant to Social Code Book Two (SGB II) • Benefits under the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz (AsylbLG, Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act) • Age limit and reduced earning capacity www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_12/__41.html • Receipt of an early old-age pension or • the retirement age (the retirement age begins between 65 and 67, depending on year of birth) has not yet been reached and • temporary full reduced earning capacity (as determined by the pension insurance provider) has been established • Low income, low assets Income and assets are not sufficient to cover the cost of living.

Documents you need

• Application for Sozialhilfe (social assistance) with attachments • Valid identity documents if applicable, Meldebestätigung (confirmation of registration) • Proof of temporary incapacity to work • Proof of income • Proof of assets for example for capital-forming insurance policies (life insurance, home savings insurance, Riester pension contracts, death benefit insurance, funeral provision plans and similar), savings accounts, land, real estate, valuables, motor vehicles • Bank statements • Rental agreement if applicable, rent change notice • Proof of health and long-term care insurance • The scope of the documents required, in particular proof of income and assets, depends on the specifics of the individual case.

Forms

• Application for Sozialhilfe (social assistance) www.berlin.de/formularverzeichnis/?formular=/soziales/soz/so • Annex 1 on maintenance payments www.berlin.de/formularverzeichnis/?formular=/soziales/soz/so • Annex 2 for foreign nationals/asylum seekers www.berlin.de/formularverzeichnis/?formular=/soziales/soz/so • Annex 3 on real property assets www.berlin.de/formularverzeichnis/?formular=/soziales/soz/so

Fees

none

Legal basis

• Sozialgesetzbuch Zwölftes Buch (SGB XII – Social Code Book Twelve, Social Assistance) §§ 27-40 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_12/

Further information

• Sozialhilfe nach dem SGB XII (SenASGIVA) [Social assistance under Book XII of the Social Code (Senate Department for Social Affairs, Youth, Family and Integration Prevention Berlin)] www.berlin.de/sen/soziales/soziale-sicherung/sozialhilfe/ • Informationen zur Sozialhilfe (SenASGIVA) [Information on social assistance] sozialrecht.berlin.de/ • Sozialhilfe und Grundsicherung (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales) [Social assistance and basic income support (Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs)] www.bmas.de/DE/Service/Publikationen/Broschueren/a207-sozial

Who is responsible

The service can be used at the Bezirksamt (district office) of your district of residence.

Responsible for you

Choose a location; the appointment itself is booked on the original page.

Original

German original

Service number 121829 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/121829/