🚨 Sudden loss and crisis intervention
In brief
A sudden, unexpected death – through an accident, a suicide or an act of violence – hits relatives particularly unprepared. At the scene, crisis intervention teams (KIT) or emergency pastoral care (Notfallseelsorge) are usually notified automatically by the police or ambulance service; they provide immediate psychosocial first aid, but do not replace long-term grief support.
If the death was caused by an act of violence, relatives and survivors have been able to receive benefits since 1 January 2024 under the new Social Compensation Law (SGB XIV), which replaced the former Victims' Compensation Act (Opferentschädigungsgesetz, OEG).
Step by step
- Accept acute first aidCrisis intervention teams or emergency pastoral care are usually notified automatically by the police or ambulance service at the scene.
- Where someone else is at fault, stay in contact with the police/public prosecutor's officeIn the case of an accident involving third parties or an act of violence, stay informed about how the proceedings develop, if applicable as a joint plaintiff (Nebenklage) or victim witness.
- Check entitlements under SGB XIVIn the case of a death caused by an act of violence, check whether benefits under social compensation law may apply to relatives.
- Contact specialised servicesWeißer Ring (victims of crime and relatives), AGUS e.V. (after a suicide), ANUAS e.V. (after homicides or missing-person cases).
- Give yourself time for the acute phaseCrisis intervention bridges the first hours and days – for coping with grief further on, additional longer-term support is usually advisable.
Deadlines
- A crisis intervention team provides immediate emotional first aid – not therapy and not investigative work.
- Only offences from 1 January 2024 fall fully under the new SGB XIV; for earlier offences the old Victims' Compensation Act still applies on a transitional basis.
- Not every sudden death is legally a "criminal offence" – whether compensation entitlements exist depends on the outcome of the investigation.
- After a suicide in their circle, survivors often report feelings of guilt and stigmatisation – specialised services such as AGUS e.V. are aimed specifically at this situation.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Social Compensation Law (SGB XIV)
The Fourteenth Book of the Social Code came fully into force on 1 January 2024 and replaced the previous Victims' Compensation Act (OEG) and the Federal Pensions Act for war victims (BVG). Those entitled are not only directly injured persons, but expressly also relatives, survivors and persons close to them – among other things, they can use the newly created trauma outpatient clinics. Since 2024, victims of psychological violence have also been among those entitled.
Psychosocial emergency care (PSNV) as a matter for the states
How crisis intervention teams and emergency pastoral care are organised is not regulated uniformly across Germany, but lies predominantly within the responsibility of the states and municipalities or the providers of the ambulance service.
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