Hilfen für Menschen, die durch eine Unrechtshaft zu Schaden gekommen sind

With the Prisoner Assistance Act opens up numerous possibilities for victims to claim social compensation benefits.

The Prisoner Assistance Act provides victims with numerous opportunities to claim social compensation benefits.

The Prisoner Assistance Act regulates financial compensation for persons of German nationality who were detained for political reasons in the Soviet Occupation Zone (SBZ) or in the Soviet sector of Berlin or in the Eastern Bloc states after the Second World War, as well as for their relatives and surviving dependants.

If a person suffers an injury during detention, they will receive benefits in analogous application of the provisions of the Federal Pension Act. Surviving dependants also receive benefits if the detention led to the death of the detainee.

Rehabilitation certificate

Health damage during imprisonment

Damage to health during imprisonment.

none

Rarely under 12 months

None for the application.

Any benefits will only be granted from the date of application.

None.

An appeal can be lodged against the authority's decision within one month of notification. The appeal can be made against a rejection as well as against the scope and amount of the benefits.

• Compensation for victims under the Prisoner Relief Act Granting
• The Prisoner Relief Act regulates financial compensation payments for persons of German nationality who, after the Second World War
  • in the Soviet occupation zone (SBZ)
  • in the Soviet sector of Berlin
  • in the states of the Eastern Bloc
• were taken into custody for political reasons
• Relatives and surviving dependants are also entitled

Depending on the reason for the application, responsibility lies with the:

• Pension Office for the care provided for under the HHG, the StrRehaG and the Act on the Repeal of Administrative Decisions contrary to the Rule of Law in the Accession Area and the associated subsequent claims (VwRehaG) due to damage to health caused by liability or persecution

• local social welfare institutions for compensation payments under the Act on the Compensation of Occupational Disadvantages for Victims of Political Persecution in the Accession Area (BerRehaG)

• the district, the independent city, the Hanover region, the city of Göttingen and the large independent city

  • for capital compensation (prison compensation) under the StrRehaG,

  • for the special allowance according to § 17 a StrRehaG (so-called victim's pension)

The application for the granting of a survivor's pension must be submitted to the State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Family (§ 10 para. 1 HHG).

The addresses of the relevant branch offices can be found on the website of the Lower Saxony State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Family.

Forms are provided by the Länder. There is no online procedure, there is a written form requirement.