Sources and method – Disability
Note on einfach-teilhaben.de
The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) already operates einfach-teilhaben.de, an official, comprehensive information portal on disability and participation, which likewise describes itself as a "Wegweiser" (guide). This portal was created independently of it and without drawing on its texts – the research relies exclusively on statutes and other primary and specialist sources (see below). If you are looking for an additional, government-run point of contact, einfach-teilhaben.de complements this service.
Sources
- Gesetze im Internet (gesetze-im-internet.de), Federal Ministry of Justice and Federal Office of Justice, retrieved September 2026: consolidated versions of SGB IX (Parts 1–3), SGB VI (§§ 43, 96a, 236a), SGB XI (§§ 14, 15, 18, 40), SGG (§§ 84, 87, 183), KSchG (§ 4), StVO (§ 46), EStG (§ 33b), Kraftfahrzeugsteuergesetz (§ 3a) as well as the Eingliederungshilfe-Verordnung and the Versorgungsmedizin-Verordnung (VersMedV). Basis for all sections cited in the text.
- Bundesteilhabegesetz (BTHG; Federal Participation Act), BGBl. 2016 I S. 3234, and the Act ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, BGBl. 2008 II S. 1419 (recht.bund.de). Basis for the structure of integration assistance and the link to the UN CRPD.
- Rundfunkbeitragsstaatsvertrag (Interstate Broadcasting Contribution Treaty), in particular § 4 (exemption and reduction), version as of 2026 (state law of the broadcasters). Basis for the information on the RF reduction.
- BMAS notice on the price of the Wertmarke (voucher) under § 228 Abs. 2 SGB IX (bmas.de), retrieved September 2026. Basis for the Wertmarke prices given.
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund (German Pension Insurance), specialist information on reduced earning capacity pension (Erwerbsminderungsrente), additional-earnings limits and old-age pension for severely disabled people, as of 2026 (deutsche-rentenversicherung.de). Basis for the mechanisms and approximate values given in the article "Pension and reduced earning capacity in cases of disability".
- Scientific secondary sources on inclusive education in the federal states (incl. Bertelsmann Stiftung, KMK statistics), as a basis for the state assessments in the article "School and inclusion" – not an independent analysis of all 16 state school laws.
- Sozialverband VdK Deutschland and Sozialverband Deutschland (SoVD), publications on advice and representation services, retrieved September 2026 (vdk.de, sovd.de).
Where information is expressly marked as uncertain
For some figures, the research could not find a direct official primary source with the exact amount or could not conclusively cross-check it, or the value naturally differs every year or from state to state. This concerns in particular:
- The basic amount (WfbM-Grundbetrag) in the vocational training and work area of the sheltered workshop for people with disabilities (Werkstatt für behinderte Menschen): it depends on the individual workshop and collective agreements and is not fixed as a set euro sum nationwide. The work promotion allowance (Arbeitsförderungsgeld), by contrast, is set nationwide by § 59 SGB IX (52 euros per month, rising to 351 euros when the pay approaches or exceeds 299 euros).
- Exact funding amounts and programmes for barrier-free conversion (e.g. the KfW programme "Altersgerecht Umbauen") often change in funding volume and conditions; only the mechanism (grant/loan, application before construction starts) is described here, no up-to-date maximum funding amount.
- Fine points of state school law on inclusion (entitlement to inclusive schooling, parents' right to choose, reservation of resources) differ between the 16 federal states; the topic page describes the common principle (UN CRPD Art. 24, special educational needs), not every state regulation in detail.
- The exact age limits of the old-age pension for severely disabled people without deductions under § 236a SGB VI are staggered by year of birth; the page gives the mechanism and approximate values, not a complete table by birth year.
- The additional-earnings limits for reduced earning capacity pensions (§ 96a SGB VI) and the asset allowance in integration assistance are adjusted every year; for 2026 the mechanism is explained without asserting the exact euro amount as permanently valid, unless it was clearly documented for 2026.
- The current broadcasting contribution and the extent of the reduction (Merkzeichen RF) may change through amending interstate broadcasting treaties; the principle of the reduction is given, with a pointer to the current contribution rate at the Beitragsservice.
In all these cases, the relevant topic page names the uncertainty or variability expressly, instead of presenting a figure or assessment as conclusively settled law.
What this platform does – and what it does not
- Figures, deadlines, amounts and legal bases come from the sources named. Nothing was added that is not documented there. Where a figure could not be reliably verified, this is stated on the relevant page, instead of guessed.
- Values adjusted every year (e.g. allowances tied to the reference value, additional-earnings limits) are marked as such, with a note to ask the responsible body for the current value, instead of presenting an outdated amount as permanently valid.
- Topics regulated differently under state law (in particular school law and inclusion) are marked "depends on the state" instead of an invented nationwide rule.
- Social and participation law is in flux; in particular the redefinition of the group of people entitled to integration assistance (§ 99 SGB IX) is still pending. The information does not replace legal advice in an individual case.
- Deadlines are often short and run from delivery. If in doubt, go straight to an advice centre (in particular the EUTB), the responsible office or a lawyer – see Advice and points of contact.