Benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act

If you are a foreigner and meet the requirements listed below, you can apply for benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.

In addition to basic benefits for accommodation, heating, food and the like, you can receive benefits for illness, pregnancy and childbirth as well as other benefits (e.g. for care, integration assistance).

Before benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act can be claimed, the applicant's own available income and assets must be used up. Priority is also given to claims against third parties insofar as these can cover the necessary living expenses.

You must apply for benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act.

The entitlement to benefits ends

• upon departure or
• at the end of the month in which a requirement for benefits ceases to apply or
• at the end of the month in which you are recognized as a person entitled to asylum.

Contact the responsible office in your district or city.

Foreigners who are entitled to benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act include those who

• have a residence permit as an asylum seeker,
• have one of the residence permits expressly mentioned in § 1 of the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act for humanitarian or international law reasons,
• have a tolerated stay permit in accordance with § 60a of the Residence Act,
• are obliged to leave the country,
• are spouses, life partners or minor children of beneficiaries or
• have submitted a subsequent or second application for recognition as a politically persecuted person.

There is no entitlement to benefits if a job opportunity has been rejected without justification despite the person's ability to work.

• If available, valid passport of the applicant and proof of legal immigration status (e.g. permit, toleration)
• Proof of any income at the time of application (e.g. payslip)
• Proof of assets

Note: You can find out which other documents you need to submit from the relevant authority.

In accordance with the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, the basic benefits for accommodation in a state reception center cover basic daily needs such as food, accommodation, heating, clothing, health and personal care. The necessary benefits are also granted for acute illnesses and pain as well as pregnancy and childbirth. In addition, a monthly allowance is paid. In the case of accommodation outside such a state reception center, cash benefits are generally granted to cover necessary needs.

Restrictions on benefits may arise if

• entry was made for the purpose of obtaining benefits in accordance with the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act,
• persons entitled to benefits who are required to leave the country do not take advantage of the fixed departure date and the opportunity to leave the country, unless the departure could not be carried out for reasons for which they are not responsible,
• measures to end their stay were prevented through their own fault or
• another EU member state or third country is responsible for certain third-country nationals or stateless persons following distribution by the European Union.

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Thuringian Ministry for Migration, Justice and Consumer Protection

24.06.2016