Occupational rehabilitation; application for compensation benefits

Persons who have suffered an occupational disadvantage as a result of political persecution can receive compensation under the Occupational Rehabilitation Act.

For contact details of the responsible authoritiy and local valid information select under "Select location" a location.

Anyone who was prevented from practicing their profession or a socially equivalent profession in the GDR due to political persecution or who was unable to complete the vocational training they had started can be professionally rehabilitated.

The aim of the compensation payments is to compensate for the effects of persecution-related interventions from the period from May 8, 1945 to October 2, 1990 that can still be felt today. These interventions meant that

those persecuted were no longer able to pursue the profession they had previously practiced, started, learned, aspired to by starting vocational training or a socially equivalent profession,
the pupils were not admitted to the Gymnasium, extended secondary school, university entrance qualification or Abitur examination or were unable to complete their training at the extended secondary school or their training that did not lead to a university entrance qualification.

Special assistance and social compensation benefits include support payments of EUR 180 or EUR 240 per month in the event of particular persecution-related need.

The persecuted person must be recognized as such by the competent rehabilitation authority and have a certificate of rehabilitation.
The period of persecution lasted at least 3 years or lasted until October 2, 1990.
If the persecuted person receives a pension from the statutory pension insurance scheme, there must be more than 6 years between the start of the persecution period and the start of the pension payment.
The persecuted pupil is particularly impaired in his or her economic situation.

Compensation benefits are paid on application and are income-dependent.

When applying, the following documents in particular are required:
- Copy of birth certificate
- Copy of the registration certificate
- Certificate of rehabilitation from the competent rehabilitation authority
- Proof of income

Submit an application for benefits to the social welfare administration responsible for your place of residence. The application does not require any special form.

The authority will check your application and may ask you to provide further evidence.