Only a few children and adolescents from eligible families receive benefits for social and cultural participation. This is one of the findings of a study by the Bertelsmann Foundation. The authors explain: “Different approval and application procedures, complex forms, and extensive documentation requirements made it difficult for parents to apply for the benefits.” Therefore, they propose fundamentally simplifying access and regularly adjusting the participation allowance to the needs of children and youth.
Information on the participation package is available in three languages
The Tübingen district is working to provide parents with comprehensive information about the BuT. Information sheets can be downloaded in German, English, and Ukrainian. They answer questions such as: What education and participation are, what benefits are available, who is eligible, and how and where eligible individuals can receive the benefits.
One click to the application and forms
In addition, the responsible department at the District Office provides links to forms such as the application for BuT benefits and the necessary attachments—for example, for field trips and school trips or participation in social and cultural life. The page also includes a form that schools can use to confirm a student’s need for extracurricular learning support. Information on how the process works, how long it takes to process applications, and what deadlines apply is also available.
The benefits are rarely claimed
The Education and Participation Package (BuT) has been in place since 2011—that is, for 15 years. The Bertelsmann Foundation’s latest nationwide assessment is sobering. “More than eight out of ten young people who receive basic income support under Book II of the Social Code (SGB II) do not receive the monthly participation allowance of 15 euros. Young people who receive social assistance or fall under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act make even less use of the benefits. No data is available for families receiving housing assistance or the child supplement.
Policymakers should remove bureaucratic hurdles
Nationwide, one in five children from families receiving SGB II benefits also receives no support for the 195-euro school supplies allowance. Only 37 percent take advantage of free school lunches. However, “Participation is not an extra, but an important prerequisite for education, a sense of belonging, and a healthy upbringing,” according to the study. Therefore, policymakers should, among other things, remove bureaucratic hurdles.
Baden-Württemberg: Below Average
In charts, the authors break down the participation rates by federal state. The data is based on the year 2025. Among 6- to 15-year-olds eligible for SGB II benefits, Baden-Württemberg falls significantly below the national average in terms of school supplies (75.4 percent), school lunches (27 percent), and participation in social and cultural life (15.9 percent). For 15- to 18-year-olds eligible for benefits, the figures are even lower: school supplies (58.1 percent), school lunches (10.4 percent), and participation in social and cultural life (9.5 percent).
Further information:
For information from the District Administration Office:
https://www.kreis-tuebingen.de/soziales/soziale-hilfen/but
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