Basic security in old age and in case of reduced earning capacity

Basic security under the 4th chapter of the Twelfth Book of the Social Code (SGB XII) is available if you

• have reached the age limit for the standard old-age pension (see § 41 para. 2 SGB XII),

• are of legal age and permanently fully incapable of earning a living, or

• are of legal age and have completed the entry procedure or vocational training section of a workshop for disabled people

and cannot cover your necessary living expenses from your own resources, e.g., income or assets (§§ 19 para. 2 in conjunction with §§ 41 ff SGB XII).

The necessary living expenses include, in particular, your daily needs such as food, clothing, personal hygiene, household electricity, and your costs for accommodation and heating (§ 27a SGB XII).

Your income generally includes all monetary or monetary-value receipts; that is, everything that you or your spouse receive during the period of need. This includes, for example, pensions, wage earnings, maintenance payments, sick pay, child benefits (§ 82 SGB XII).

Your assets generally include all exploitable assets; that is, everything you or your spouse already own at the time of application. This includes, for example, savings deposits, securities, surrender values from life insurance policies, real estate. Smaller cash amounts or other monetary values up to an amount of €10,000; for spouses, up to €20,000 (§ 90 SGB XII) do not need to be used.

The social welfare office at your place of residence is responsible for examining a basic security claim.