đź“‹ Social compensation under SGB XIV
In brief
Since 1 January 2024, Book Fourteen of the Social Code (SGB XIV) has governed social compensation for victims of violent crime and has replaced the former Victims' Compensation Act (OEG). Under § 1 SGB XIV you are entitled if you suffered health damage through an intentional, unlawful physical attack – regardless of whether the offender is convicted or whether the offender could be identified at all. Benefits include, among others, rapid acute psychological help through trauma outpatient clinics (Traumaambulanzen), medical treatment and, depending on the health consequences, a compensation pension.
This page covers social compensation for victims of general violent crime outside a partnership or family. For people affected by domestic violence the same law applies, with some additional special features (e.g. the abolition of the former “contributory fault” exclusion where the person stayed with the violent person) – these are set out in detail in the guide “Domestic violence”.
Step by step
- Make the applicationApply to the responsible office for social compensation or the pension office (Versorgungsamt) of your federal state (the name varies by state).
- Use acute help in parallelIf you urgently need psychological support, a trauma outpatient clinic can often give quick first aid even before final approval.
- Attach evidenceAttach medical certificates, police records or other documentation of the offence where available – informal information can also be added later.
- Wait for the assessmentThe responsible office examines the application and issues a notice of decision (Bescheid).
- If rejected: objectionYou can lodge an objection (Widerspruch) against a rejecting or insufficient notice within one month.
Deadlines
- The rules of SGB XIV apply in principle to harmful events from 1 January 2024; for earlier offences the old Victims' Compensation Act (OEG) with its requirements generally still applies (grandfathering).
- The exact name and accessibility of the responsible authority differ by federal state (e.g. Versorgungsamt, Amt für Soziale Entschädigung, Landesamt für Soziales) – obtain local information via an advice centre.
- Claims under SGB XIV do not in principle rule out other benefits (e.g. health insurance, basic income support), but may be offset in individual cases.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
What has changed with SGB XIV
SGB XIV came fully into force on 1 January 2024 and recast social compensation law in a Code of its own. Compared with the old Victims' Compensation Act, the entitlement conditions and the catalogue of benefits were expanded; psychological violence is also expressly taken into account.
Trauma outpatient clinics as quick acute help
Trauma outpatient clinics give psychologically traumatised victims of violence prompt access to first professional support, regardless of the outcome of any criminal or compensation proceedings.
Principle (§ 1 SGB XIV)
§ 1 SGB XIV states the principle that persons who suffered health damage through a harmful event are entitled to social compensation benefits – this expressly includes intentional, unlawful physical attack, regardless of the relationship between offender and victim.
Distinction from domestic violence
The guide “Domestic violence” covers the same legal basis in depth for cases within partnerships or families, in particular the former grounds for exclusion due to “contributory fault”, which were abolished there. These special features are not repeated 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.