For many people who ended up in Germany because of military operations in Ukraine, the issue of receiving social assistance is extremely important. This is not only support for basic needs such as housing, food and health insurance, but also the opportunity to more easily adapt to new living conditions, find work and integrate into German society. Various government institutions, such as the Jobcenter and the Social Security Office (Sozialamt), play an important role in this process, and they provide assistance depending on your status and situation.
IA “FAKT” has collected detailed information on how to apply for social services, where to apply, how to act for pensioners, what documents you need to have with you and what types of assistance you can count on while in Berlin.
If you have received a residence permit from the Land Immigration Office (LEA), this entitles you to claim social assistance from your local Jobcentre. For this, it is necessary to issue a corresponding application. After registration in Berlin, until the decision on granting assistance from the employment center is made, you can receive assistance from the Social Security Office (Sozialamt). This support covers living expenses, housing and utilities, health insurance and other essential expenses.
People who are able to work, that is, those who have health and age that allow them to work, are entitled to support from the employment center, provided they have a residence permit or a temporary document. All other categories of refugees turn to the social department for help.
Conditions for submitting an application for social assistance
To qualify for social assistance in Berlin, you must be officially registered in the city and submit an online application for a residence permit.
- Registration. First, you should contact the reception center for refugees on the territory of the former Tegel airport. If you have been sent to the federal state of Berlin, registration will take place directly on the spot.
- Application for a residence permit. After registration, you need to fill out an online application for a residence permit. After that, you will receive a confirmation of the submission of the application, which is required for registration of assistance at the social security office.
- Receiving assistance for the transition period. While you are waiting for a decision on your residence permit, you can apply for support under the Asylum Seekers Act to the Social Security Administration for a temporary period.
After obtaining a residence permit or a temporary document (green card or temporary white card), you are entitled to additional assistance. Depending on your situation, you should submit appropriate applications to the employment center or the social security office.
The procedure for submitting an application to the social security department or the employment center
Depending on your status and situation, you need to contact different departments:
- If you are able to work and have a residence permit or a temporary permit, contact the employment center to apply for civil cash assistance.
- If you are registered in Berlin and have applied for a residence permit, you must first apply for benefits under the Asylum Seekers Act at the Social Security Office. After obtaining a residence permit or a temporary document, you can apply for civil financial assistance.
- If you have reached retirement age or have been declared unfit for work and have a residence permit or temporary permit, apply for basic security (Grundsicherung) at the social security office.
- If you have registered in Berlin and submitted an online application for a residence permit, you must first apply for assistance under the Asylum Seekers Act at the Social Security Office. After obtaining a residence permit or a temporary permit, you will be able to submit an application for basic support to the social security department.
The process of applying for social assistance under the Act on Social Assistance for Asylum Seekers
In order to submit an application, you need to appear in person at the relevant social agency. To make the process as easy as possible, make sure you have the following documents with you:
- A completed application for assistance under the Act on Social Assistance to Asylum Seekers, together with all necessary supporting documents. (Appendix in German (PDF), translated into Ukrainian (PDF)). Only one application is required per family.
- Identity document: foreign passport or identity card.
- Confirmation of your right to stay in Berlin. This may be a referral from the State Office for Refugees (LAF) in Berlin, which you will receive if you have been referred to the federal state of Berlin.
- Two passport photos for each family member.
- Children’s birth certificates.
From June 1, 2022, the issue of providing social assistance to able-bodied persons who have not yet reached retirement age has been transferred to employment centers. To do this, you need to pass an interview to be entered into the database, which you will be invited to do. By the time you are registered at the employment center, payments will be made by the relevant social agency. As an officially registered war zone refugee, you will not be left without support. Information on all procedures that will come into effect from June will be updated on this page in a timely manner.
Contact details of the Berlin social services for applications under the Social Assistance Act for Asylum Seekers
In certain areas of Berlin, social services have created specialized centers or introduced additional reception hours for refugees from Ukraine. Please note that the waiting time may be long. Contact your local social services office as soon as possible.
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf:
Otto-Suhr-Allee 100,
10585 m. Berlin
Email: Post.soziales@charlottenburg-wilmersdorf.de
Site: www.berlin.de/ba-charlottenburg-wilmersdorf
Reception: Tuesday, Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday by appointment.
Pankov:
Fröbelstraße 17,
10405 m. Berlin
Email: ukraine.sozialamt@ba-pankow.berlin.de
Site: www.berlin.de/ba-pankow
Reception: Monday, Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg:
Yorckstraße 4-11,
10965 m. Berlin
Email: sozialamt@ba-fk.berlin.de
Site: www.berlin.de/ba-friedrichshain-kreuzberg
Reception: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30.
Reinickendorf:
Eichborndamm 215,
13437 m. Berlin
Email: post.sozialamt@reinickendorf.berlin.de
Site: www.berlin.de/ba-reinickendorf
Reception: Tuesday, Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Lichtenberg:
Alt-Friedrichsfelde 60,
10315 m. Berlin
Email: asyl.ukraine@lichtenberg.berlin.de
Site: www.berlin.de/ba-lichtenberg
Reception: Tuesday, Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Spandau:
Galenstraße 14,
13597 m. Berlin
Email: asylblg_uebergabe@ba-spandau.berlin.de
Site: www.berlin.de/ba-spandau
Reception: Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and by appointment.
Marcan-Gellersdorf:
Riesaer Str. 94,
12627 m. Berlin
Email: Sozialamt@ba-mh.berlin.de
Site: www.berlin.de/ba-marzahn-hellersdorf
Reception: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 09:00 to 12:00.
Steglitz-Zellendorf:
Schloßstraße 37,
12163 Berlin,
Office 101
Email: Soz-Ukraine@ba-sz.berlin.de
Site: www.berlin.de/ba-steglitz-zehlendorf
Reception: Tuesday, Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Mitte:
Müllerstrasse 146,
13341 m. Berlin
Site: www.berlin.de/ba-mitte
Reception: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (registration by 11:30 a.m.).
Tempelhof-Schöneberg:
Tempelhofer Damm 165,
12099 m. Berlin
Email: sozialwesen@ba-ts.berlin.de
Site: www.berlin.de/ba-tempelhof-schoeneberg
Reception: Monday, Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (last entry at 11 a.m.).
Neukolln:
Donaustraße 89,
12043 m. Berlin
Email: soziales@bezirksamt-neukoelln.de
Site: www.berlin.de/ba-neukoelln
Reception: Monday, Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Treptov-Kepenik:
Hans-Schmidt-Straße 18,
12489 m. Berlin
Email: Soz.Ukraine@ba-tk.berlin.de
Site: www.berlin.de/ba-treptow-koepenick
Reception: Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Information for pensioners
If you have already reached pensionable age according to German law, you can apply for basic benefits directly to the social welfare office. If you are unable to work, but have not yet reached retirement age, you must contact the employment center first. There they will determine which department is responsible for your case.
The right to receive a pension in Germany comes between the ages of 65 and 67, depending on your year of birth:
Table of retirement age:
- Born before 1947: retirement age – 65 years.
- 1947: 65 years and one month.
- 1948: 65 years and two months.
- 1949: 65 years and three months.
- 1950: 65 years and four months.
- 1951: 65 years and five months.
- 1952: 65 years and six months.
- 1953: 65 years and seven months.
- 1954: 65 years and eight months.
- 1955: 65 years and nine months.
- 1956: 65 years and ten months.
- 1957: 65 years and eleven months.
- 1958: retirement age – 66 years.
- 1959: 66 years and two months.
- 1960: 66 years and four months.
- 1961: 66 years and six months.
- 1962: 66 years and eight months.
- 1963: 66 years and ten months.
- Since 1964: the retirement age is 67 years.
There are exceptions, for example, for persons with severe disabilities. In case of doubt, it is better to consult the employment center. As a general rule, the right to receive a pension in Germany arises only after reaching the retirement age and on the condition that you have paid contributions to the German pension fund for at least five years.
