🎒 Education and participation package (§ 28 SGB II)
In brief
In addition to the standard rate, children, young people and young adults up to 25 are entitled to special benefits for education and participation. They are not only available to children receiving basic income support, but also to children in families receiving housing benefit, child supplement or social assistance. They include, among other things, grants for class trips and school outings, a school supplies package, learning support if a pupil is at risk of not being moved up, a contribution towards communal lunch at school or nursery, and a monthly amount for club membership, music school or similar leisure activities.
Step by step
- Check the basis of your entitlementEducation and participation benefits are available to children in families receiving basic income support, social assistance, housing benefit or child supplement – regardless of which of these benefits the family receives overall.
- Apply for each benefit at the responsible bodyDepending on the municipality, the Jobcenter, Sozialamt or a separate education and participation office is responsible; some benefits must be applied for individually, others are paid directly to the school or provider.
- Check the school supplies package on the cut-off datesThe school supplies package is paid in two instalments, at the start of the school year in August and for the second school half-year.
- Submit the club or course fee directlyFor the participation allowance, a confirmation from the club or course provider of the actual costs is usually enough.
Deadlines
- The education package is not a benefit only for children receiving basic income support: families who receive "only" housing benefit or child supplement are also entitled – this is often overlooked in practice.
- Individual benefits (e.g. learning support) require a specific need, such as a risk of not being moved up; there is no blanket entitlement "just like that" for every component.
- Deadlines for class trips and school outings are often short because schools themselves need lead time for registration – an application should be submitted as soon as the date is known, not just before it.
- The exact process (payment to parents vs. direct payment to school/club) differs depending on the municipality and Jobcenter – if in doubt, ask locally.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Legal basis and persons entitled
The relevant provision in SGB II is § 28 SGB II "needs for education and participation" (not to be confused with § 24 SGB II, which regulates deviating forms of provision and special needs). For children in social assistance households, the parallel provision § 34 SGB XII applies. Persons entitled are those who have not yet reached the age of 25, attend a general or vocational school and do not receive training pay. Under § 6b BKGG, a corresponding rule applies to children in families receiving child supplement or housing benefit.
Benefits at a glance
The individual benefits include: one-day outings and multi-day class trips (actual costs), the school supplies package (€195/year in two instalments), school transport, learning support if a pupil is at risk of not being moved up, a contribution to lunch at school and nursery, and the participation allowance of €15 per month for clubs, music lessons or comparable activities (§ 28 Abs. 7 SGB II).
Known weak point in implementation
In social-policy debate it has been criticised for years that take-up of the education package lags clearly behind the number of those entitled, among other things because of the many different application routes per individual benefit and municipality. No uniform nationwide, current take-up rate for 2026 was found in the course of this research, so none is given here.
A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.