Victims of violent crime - apply for support under the Social Compensation Law (Soziales Entschädigungsrecht)

Anyone who has been the victim of a violent crime and suffered harm to their health can apply for benefits under the Social Compensation Law (Soziales Entschädigungsrecht, SGB XIV). As immediate assistance, those affected can turn to one of the three Traumaambulanzen (trauma outpatient clinics), where they will find psychological support. Using a trauma outpatient clinic does not depend on the application being approved. The following benefits are provided for by law: • Benefits for medical treatment (medical rehabilitation, coverage of costs for a hospital stay, orthopedic aids, cures/spa treatments, dentures) • Pension payments depending on the severity of the health damage caused by the violent crime • Survivor benefits (widow's, widower's, orphan's and parents' pension) • Burial and death allowance If the person's previous occupation can no longer be carried out, or only to a limited extent, as a result of the violent crime, the following may be granted: • Benefits for participation in working life (e.g. retraining) • Benefits to compensate for economic consequences (e.g. compensation for occupational damage, Berufsschadensausgleich)