During an in-company or off-site apprenticeship, or, for example, a vocational preparation program, you may be eligible for supplemental citizen’s income. However, you must first apply for vocational training assistance or a training allowance.

The same applies if you are a student in a school-based program and receive benefits under the BAföG. Even if you receive BAföG while studying and live in your parents’ household, you may be eligible for supplemental citizen’s income. The following benefits are therefore not relevant to you.

If you are a student and do not live with your parents, are in vocational training and are not eligible for training assistance under the BAföG (for example, because you have exceeded the maximum funding period or the age limit), or are in vocational training and live in a boarding school, you may be eligible for the following benefits:

Benefits for Additional Needs

Under certain conditions, you can apply for a supplement for so-called additional needs in addition to educational assistance (such as BAföG benefits). These include:

• Additional needs for expectant mothers
• Additional needs for single parents
• Additional needs for medically necessary, costly dietary requirements
• Additional needs where, in individual cases, there is an undeniable, ongoing, and not merely one-time special need (for example, costs associated with exercising visitation rights)

If you have income that exceeds your standard needs and the costs of your housing and heating, the excess amount reduces the benefit for additional needs.

Initial Provision for Pregnancy and Childbirth

If you are pregnant or have given birth to a child, you are entitled to additional financial assistance for initial necessities, such as clothing or furniture. This is contingent on you being in a financial emergency.

Loans forCases of Hardship

In particularly difficult circumstances, you may receive a loan during your education. This is possible if exceptional, serious circumstances jeopardize your education and/or you find yourself in an emergency situation that threatens your livelihood.

You can receive a hardship loan if you do not receive BAföG or if your BAföG benefits are insufficient to cover your living expenses and you are unable to remedy the situation by taking on paid employment.

You must repay the interest-free hardship loan after completing your education.

Hardship Grant

If, as a student in a school-based program, you do not receive educational assistance because you have exceeded certain age limits and qualify as a hardship case, you may be eligible for a grant under certain circumstances if it is absolutely necessary for your integration into the workforce. The grant may be paid for

• basic and additional needs,
• expenses for housing and heating,
• health and long-term care insurance premiums.

The age limit for educational assistance is generally 45 years, though further exceptions are possible.

Students are not eligible for a hardship grant, but may receive a hardship loan.

Transitional Loan

If you are already receiving basic income support benefits and are starting a training program, you can receive a transitional loan for the first month. This loan can help you bridge a financial gap until you receive your first training stipend or training assistance. It prevents your start of training from being jeopardized. It is granted only for the first month of training and is paid at the beginning of the month. The amount is based on the basic income benefit.

You must repay this interest-free loan after completing your training.