Specialisation

Anyone can fall on hard times due to an accident, illness, death of a partner, unemployment, lack of income or insufficient income. Under certain conditions, they can then receive social assistance. Social assistance is a right guaranteed by law. However, this only applies if the person concerned cannot help themselves and no one else can help them. It does not matter what caused the need.

Social assistance comes in various forms:

• in the form of money, both as a regular monthly payment and as a one-off benefit
• as a benefit in kind
• as personal assistance, for example in obtaining accommodation or a place in a care home
• by counselling and supporting those seeking help

Social welfare is provided by local authorities (rural districts and independent cities) and the supra-local social welfare organisation (Landeswohlfahrtsverband Hessen).

Social assistance is divided into 7 sub-areas. You can find more information under the following headings.

• Assistance with living expenses
• Basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity
• Help with health
• Integration assistance for people with disabilities
• Care assistance
• Help to overcome particular social difficulties
• Help in other life situations

• Care assistance (social welfare)
• Social assistance benefits for different life situations