Grants for the disabled people in Germany
German law (Grundgesetz) forbids discrimination on the basis of physical or mental disability. The Social Welfare Code IX (SGBIX), which came in to force in April 2001, is based on the idea of equal opportunities and participation rather than merely welfare. It focuses on rehabilitation and access for disabled people and stipulates levels of support depending on measurement of the degree of disability.
Information on the legal regulation of equal treatment: Click here (in German)
This page has information on:
German Disability Benefits & State Support
Children & Young People with Disabilities
Public Transport
Parking
The Main National Associations
Associations for the Disabled in Berlin
Further Information
There is a great deal of support available to disabled people (behinderter Menschen) in Germany, from general counselling to specific institutions such as:
Advice centres
Early support centres for children (Frühförderung)
Integrated kindergartens
Special kindergartens (Sonderkindergarten or Förderkindergarten)
Special Schools (Sonderschulen)
Special professional schools (Berufsschulen), for instance for deaf pupils
Apprenticeships for visually impaired and deaf people (Ausbildungsplaetze)
Employment integration support
Care and accommodation grants for disabled people
Workshops for disabled people (Werkstätten für behinderte Menschen)
Transport services (Fahrdienste)
These institutions and services are delivered mostly by private charity organisations (such as Caritas, Diakonisches Werk, self-help groups, parent associations) or, where no private service is available, through the public sector.
German Disability Benefits & State Support
Germany's administration is largely decentralised. Each District Office (Bezirksamt) has someone who handles disability matters (Behindertenbeauftragte/r), who can give advice about the range of financial, educational and professional support available to disabled people in their district.
For information about integration into the work force, disabled people should contact the rehabilitation team at the local Labour Agency (REHA-Team, Agentur für Arbeit).
Degree of disability (Grad der Behinderung, GdB)
German social law defines a level of disability as a non-temporary diminishing of bodily or psychological abilities that is due to an irregular state, rather than induced by age or temporary illness.
Benefit payments vary according to the degree of disability. The Pension and Benefits office (Versorgungsamt) in the disabled person's residence will assess the degree of disability (from 20 to 100), based on existing documents or further examination by the applicant's doctors.
How to claim
To qualify for any allowances or special employment conditions, disabled people need to address their local Pensions and Benefits Office (Versorgungsamt) in order to be granted a grading of disability.
For a list of offices by region: Click here (in German)
It is useful to list the names and addresses of all doctors consulted (family doctor and specialists including, if applicable, psychotherapists) as well as attach any relevant doctor's certificate, laboratory reports and hospital notes.
People with a high degree of disability, that is, more than 50 percent (Schwerbehinderte), are issued with a disability card (Schwerbebehindertenausweis) that lists the level and nature of their disability. It is valid throughout Germany.
Benefits available
Seriously disabled people are entitled to allowances and special employment conditions:
Tax allowances, including car tax reduction, depending on the degree of disability
Special protection against dismissal: any notice given must have prior agreement by the Office for Integration (Integrationsamt). If the employer fails to do this it must retract the dismissal if the disabled employee files a complaint at the Labour court (Arbeitgericht) within three weeks. This protection also applies if the disability is unknown to the employer or is only graded retrospectively
Five additional days of annual leave
A right to employment: all organisations with twenty or more employees need to fill at least five percent of available posts with disabled people
Disabled parking badge (Behinderterparkausweis)
Blind, highly visually impaired and deaf people may also be entitled to a state care allowance (Landespflegegeld) which allocates a lump sum as compensation for extra expenses incurred due to the disability. The amount depends on the degree of disability. More information can be obtained from the Youth and Social department at the District Office of residence of the disabled person (Geschäftsbereich Jugend und Soziales, Bezirksamt).
Disabled people who need help in carrying out everyday tasks (such as domestic chores, mobility and personal hygiene) may be entitled to care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) payments, as may their carers. Further information can be obtained from the disabled person's or carer's health insurance organisation (Krankenkasse).
Disabled people may also be entitled to an accommodation grant (Wohngeld), the amount of which depends on the level of disability, the number of people in the household and the monthly rental payments.
Pension based on reduction in earning capacity (Erwerbsminderungsrente)
People who are unable to work for more than three hours a week based on normal working conditions and whose disabilities are unlikely to change in the future are entitled to a full pension. The amount of this pension is halved if the working hours extend to between three and six hours per week.
The assessment of working capacity is linked to health reasons and not to the person's capacities for a current, specific job, for example the applicant is judged against their potential participation in the general job market and not solely their own previously chosen profession.
The monthly amount depends on the pensioner's years of contribution, their previous and current average earning and their place of residence in Germany (for example in the "old" or "new" German federal states). The person's pension fund (Rentenversicherungsträger) can give further information and process claims.
For more information: Click here (in German)
Children & Young People with Disabilities
The Youth Department of the District Office in the disabled person's place of residence offers advice as well as therapeutic and educational support for disabled minors (in special circumstances this may be extended up to the age of 27).
In line with all children, young disabled children are entitled to daycare. Where possible, they may attend a centre with non-disabled children. There are also special groups for children with a higher level of disability. More information on the latter can be obtained from the coordination office of the Child and Youth/Sociopaedeatric Centres (Kinder- und Jugendambulanzen/Sozialpädiatrischen Zentren, SPZ).
Child and Youth Centres generally offer the following services:
Diagnostics and advice
Sessions of special exercise
Ergotherapy
Logopaedics (therapy aimed at improving verbal and non-verbal communication)
Behavioural therapy
Family therapy
Parent support
The child must be referred by a family doctor to the Centre in his/her place of residence.
For more information on the benefits and support for a family with disabled children: Click here (in German)
Early special schooling for visually disabled, deaf and physically disabled children is also available; some children attend from age three. During compulsory schooling, integration with non-disabled pupils is encouraged, but in cases of more severe disability, each federal state has a range of special schools covering a variety of special needs, from mental and social to physical disorders, at primary and secondary levels. Further information can be obtained from the local educational authority (Schulamt).
See AngloINFO INFOrmation page Special Needs Education in Germany
Extended child benefit
Parents can claim a continued child benefit allowance (Kindergeld) for disabled children over the age of 27 if they are unable to care for themselves and the disability occurred before the age of 27. Should the disabled person receive income that exceeds €7,680 (in 2007), they will no longer be entitled to this allowance.
Visit to: http://grantsdisabled.blogspot.com/
Source: http://berlin.angloinfo.com/information/32/disabled.asp
Tags: grants for disabled children and their families
charity grants for disabled children
holiday grants for disabled people
disabled holidays
grants for small business
grants for disabled children holidays
charities that help with grants disabled children
grants for families with disabled children
grants for disabled children
grants for disabled people
grants for disabled adults
holiday grants for disabled people
holiday grants for disabled children
grants for disabled toilets
grants for individuals
jobs for disabled people
No comments:
Post a Comment