Hilfe zur Überwindung besonderer sozialer Schwierigkeiten Bewilligung

If, for example, as a result of homelessness or a criminal offense, you find yourself in a situation that impairs your participation in community life and which you cannot overcome without the support of experts, you are entitled to "help to overcome particular social difficulties" under certain conditions.

The "Help to overcome particular social difficulties" includes the following measures, among others:

• Counseling for those seeking help and their relatives
• Outpatient or inpatient care
• Help with obtaining and maintaining a home
• Measures to obtain a job
• Assistance in establishing and maintaining social relationships and organizing everyday life

The benefit is provided without consideration of income and assets. If the respective need can be covered by other provisions of Social Codes VIII and XII, these take precedence.

According to Sections 67 to 69 of the Social Code XII, anyone who has fallen into particularly difficult living conditions and is unable to overcome them on their own is entitled to assistance to overcome particular social difficulties. The particularly difficult living conditions or social difficulties must be clearly distinguished from general life crises such as unemployment, illness, partnership problems and the like by a particular degree of severity. Difficult living conditions can be, for example

• An unsecured economic livelihood
• Non-existent housing or inadequate living conditions
• Living conditions characterized by violence
• Release from a closed institution
• Comparable disadvantageous living conditions

The "Help to overcome particular social difficulties" must be applied for. An identity card, health insurance card and/or benefit certificates (e.g. pension certificate or unemployment benefit) must be presented. Consultation with the relevant authorities is recommended. The benefit is paid from the date of application.

The specialist service "Central Economic Assistance" is formally part of Social Center 3, but is located in the Tivoli high-rise building at the train station.