Wegweiser Parents & Families · Rights and benefits for your child Deutsch

🎒 Education and participation (education package)

School supplies, trips, lunch, tutoring and club fees for children from low-income families.

education package school supplies school trip school lunch tutoring participation club

In brief

The state covers some costs for school and leisure. This is called education and participation (Bildung und Teilhabe).

Children are entitled if their families receive basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld, the new Grundsicherung, SGB II, since 1 July 2026), housing benefit (Wohngeld), child supplement or asylum seeker benefits.

For 2026 there is €195 per child for school supplies: €130 in the first and €65 in the second school half-year.

In addition there are school trips, outings, the journey to school, lunch, tutoring and a flat rate of €15 a month for sport, culture or music (only for eligible children under 18).

Step by step

  1. Find the responsible officeJobcenter, city or municipal authority or Wohngeldstelle, depending on your benefit.
  2. ApplyApply for the benefits there. Ask how it works locally.
  3. Prove the needFor tutoring or outings you usually need confirmation from the school.

Deadlines

€195
School supplies 2026: €130 (1st half-year) + €65 (2nd half-year)§ 28 Abs. 3 SGB II i. V. m. § 34 SGB XII; Familienportal des Bundes
€15/month
Flat rate for sport, culture, music, leisure activities; only for eligible children under 18§ 28 Abs. 7 SGB II
Watch out – common mistakes
  • The source checked does not state application deadlines. Ask locally and apply early.
  • Under § 28 Abs. 3 SGB II, school supplies are regularly taken into account on 1 August and 1 February.
  • Before larger expenses, ask the responsible office whether the costs will be covered.
  • School transport: § 28 Abs. 4 SGB II pays only where third parties do not pay. State law takes priority: BY SchKfrG/SchBefV (primary school from 2 km, from grade 5 from 3 km, regardless of distance for disability); NRW § 97 Abs. 4 SchulG NRW + SchfkVO (primary level from 2 km); Berlin free student ticket (continuation for 2026/27 not checked) (not checked in full text).
  • Learning materials are state law (BY Art. 21 BaySchFG, NRW § 96 SchulG NRW, BE § 50 SchulG Bln); see the page on compulsory schooling and choice of school.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Benefits

§ 28 SGB II covers school outings and multi-day school trips, personal school supplies, school transport, reasonable tutoring, shared lunch under the school's responsibility and participation in social and cultural life. Under § 34 Abs. 3 SGB XII in the version retrieved, school supplies are €100 for the first school half-year and €50 for the second; for 2026 the Familienportal des Bundes gives €130 and €65, together €195. The €100/€50 are base amounts; they are updated annually, which gives €130/€65 for 2026.

Who is entitled

According to the Familienportal des Bundes, children and young people are entitled if their families receive basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld, the new Grundsicherung, SGB II, since 1 July 2026), housing benefit, child supplement or asylum seeker benefits. Legal bases: § 28 SGB II, § 6b BKGG (housing benefit and child supplement), § 3 Abs. 3 AsylbLG.

The participation flat rate of €15 a month (§ 28 Abs. 7 SGB II) is available only to eligible people under 18.

Who is responsible
  • Jobcenter
  • City or municipal authority
  • Wohngeldstelle
Further reading
Child supplement for low incomesCompulsory schooling and choice of school

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Education and participation (education package)“?
School supplies, trips, lunch, tutoring and club fees for children from low-income families.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
  • €195: School supplies 2026: €130 (1st half-year) + €65 (2nd half-year) (§ 28 Abs. 3 SGB II i. V. m. § 34 SGB XII; Familienportal des Bundes)
  • €15/month: Flat rate for sport, culture, music, leisure activities; only for eligible children under 18 (§ 28 Abs. 7 SGB II)
What should I do first?
  • Find the responsible office: Jobcenter, city or municipal authority or Wohngeldstelle, depending on your benefit.
  • Apply: Apply for the benefits there. Ask how it works locally.
  • Prove the need: For tutoring or outings you usually need confirmation from the school.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • The source checked does not state application deadlines. Ask locally and apply early.
  • Under § 28 Abs. 3 SGB II, school supplies are regularly taken into account on 1 August and 1 February.
  • Before larger expenses, ask the responsible office whether the costs will be covered.
Evidence
  • Gesetze im Internet, § 28 SGB II, retrieved 20 September 2026
  • Gesetze im Internet, § 34 SGB XII, retrieved 20 September 2026
  • Familienportal des Bundes, Bildung und Teilhabe, retrieved 20 September 2026
  • Gesetze im Internet, § 6b BKGG and § 3 AsylbLG, retrieved 20 September 2026
  • State law on transport: SchKfrG/SchBefV Bayern, § 97 SchulG NRW and SchfkVO, Berlin Schülerticket
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.