🎫 Social pass and concessions

Many towns and municipalities offer a social pass with discounted local transport, cultural and sports activities. But this is not a uniform nationwide offer.

social pass bonus card discount municipal benefit participation

In brief

A social pass (Sozialpass, also called Bonuscard, family pass or similar) is a voluntary municipal benefit – no federal law requires it. Cities and districts that offer a social pass usually grant discounts on buses and trains, swimming pools, theatres, museums and adult education centres (Volkshochschulen) for people on a low income. Whether there is a social pass, what it is called, who gets it and which concessions it covers varies considerably from municipality to municipality.

Step by step

Check whether your municipality offers a social passAsk the city or district administration directly whether such an offer exists – there is no nationwide directory.
Submit proof of eligibilityAs a rule, the notice of decision on basic income support, housing benefit, child supplement or a comparable benefit is enough as proof.
Ask about automatic issueSome municipalities (e.g. Stuttgart with the "BonusCard") issue the pass automatically to recipients of SGB II, SGB XII or AsylbLG benefits, without a separate application.

Deadlines

Watch out – common mistakes

There is no nationwide social pass and no entitlement to one under federal law – if you move from a municipality with a social pass to another without such an offer, you may lose the concession without replacement.
Information on discounts (e.g. local transport) goes out of date quickly because municipalities regularly adjust their programmes – always ask the responsible municipality for the current terms.
A social pass does not replace an application for basic income support – eligibility for the pass usually derives precisely from a notice of benefit award that has already been issued.

In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Legal framework: voluntary self-government task

The social pass is based on no federal law, but on local bylaws or resolutions of city or district councils within the framework of municipal self-government (Art. 28 Abs. 2 GG). That explains the large differences: according to available overviews, the social pass is distributed unevenly across regions, with a marked concentration in Baden-Württemberg and Nordrhein-Westfalen and in several eastern German states, while it is absent elsewhere.

Example: Stuttgart "BonusCard"

The Stuttgart "BonusCard" is issued to recipients of benefits under SGB II, SGB XII or AsylbLG without a separate application and allows, among other things, discounted fares on local transport and cheaper access to the city theatre, museums and adult education centre. This model is one example among many municipal designs and cannot be transferred nationwide.

Practical note for advice work

Since there is no central directory of all municipal social pass programmes, advice work should always consult the website of the responsible city or district administration ("Sozialpass", "Bonuscard", "Familienpass" as search terms) instead of making blanket nationwide statements.

Who is responsible

City or district administration (Sozialamt, sometimes also a separate specialist office)

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Social pass and concessions“?

Many towns and municipalities offer a social pass with discounted local transport, cultural and sports activities. But this is not a uniform nationwide offer.

What should I do first?

Check whether your municipality offers a social pass: Ask the city or district administration directly whether such an offer exists – there is no nationwide directory.
Submit proof of eligibility: As a rule, the notice of decision on basic income support, housing benefit, child supplement or a comparable benefit is enough as proof.
Ask about automatic issue: Some municipalities (e.g. Stuttgart with the "BonusCard") issue the pass automatically to recipients of SGB II, SGB XII or AsylbLG benefits, without a separate application.

What do I need to watch out for?

There is no nationwide social pass and no entitlement to one under federal law – if you move from a municipality with a social pass to another without such an offer, you may lose the concession without replacement.
Information on discounts (e.g. local transport) goes out of date quickly because municipalities regularly adjust their programmes – always ask the responsible municipality for the current terms.
A social pass does not replace an application for basic income support – eligibility for the pass usually derives precisely from a notice of benefit award that has already been issued.

Evidence

Die Linke, Kommunal-Antragsdatenbank: Sozialpässe in Städten und Landkreisen – weshalb, wo und wie (die-linke.de)
Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart, BonusCard, administrative information – example of a municipal model

As of

As of September 2026. · Sources and method

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.