Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

You must submit a separate application for education and participation benefits only if you receive the child supplement or housing assistance. If you receive basic income support for job seekers, subsistence assistance, basic income support for the elderly and those with reduced earning capacity, or benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, a separate application is no longer necessary. 

Families who do not receive any of the benefits listed above may still be eligible for benefits from the education and participation package if they are unable to finance the specific costs of education and participation and can provide appropriate documentation. It is best to consult with the relevant local office.

An overview of the responsible authorities for North Rhine-Westphalia can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

You can find an overview of the agency responsible for approving BuT benefits in North Rhine-Westphalia on the website of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

You can obtain the application form from your local office. You can find contact information for North Rhine-Westphalia on the website of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

Benefits for education and participation are paid only to adolescents and young adults who do not receive an apprenticeship stipend. If you earn money while in an apprenticeship and are not eligible for social benefits, you will not receive benefits from the education and participation package either.

When you submit an application, it will be reviewed individually for each child. If you have more than one child, you will need to submit a separate application for each child.

If you receive the child supplement or housing assistance, you can apply for the education and participation benefit retroactively for 12 months. 

If you receive basic income support for job seekers, benefits for asylum seekers, assistance with living expenses, basic income support for the elderly, or benefits for full incapacity to work, you cannot apply retroactively. In these cases, education and participation benefits are paid starting on the first day of the month in which you become eligible for one of the aforementioned main benefits.

The school supply allowance is paid out on February 1 and August 1 of each year. The amounts are adjusted regularly. You can find them here on the Family Portal.

The Education and Participation Package includes the following services:

• Field trips and multi-day trips
• School supplies package
• School Transportation Costs
• Learning support for students
• Lunch subsidy
• Participation in social and cultural life for children and adolescents up to age 18