How much is the school supplies allowance in 2026?
€195 a year, split into two payments: €130 in the month the school year begins – that is, in August – and €65 at the start of the second school half-year. The amount is unchanged from the previous year, because it follows the same annual updating as the standard needs, which were not raised for 2026. If you look this up in § 34 SGB XII, you will find the amounts of €100 and €50 there – these are the non-updated starting values in the text of the law, which are adjusted annually. The updated figure applies, that is, €130 and €65.
Do I receive the money automatically?
This depends on which benefit your household receives – and this difference is the most important one on this page. In the case of Grundsicherungsgeld from the Jobcenter, the school supplies allowance is generally paid out automatically, without you having to do anything. For Wohngeld and Kinderzuschlag, this is not the case: there, nothing at all comes without an application of your own. The same applies to the other components – lunch, class trips, transport, learning support and the €15 for the club – which practically always have to be applied for. It is precisely here that considerable amounts go unclaimed year after year, not because of refusals, but out of a lack of knowledge.
What is the €15 a month?
The benefit for participation in social and cultural life, and it is the least used component. § 34 SGB XII provides for children and young people who have not yet turned 18 a flat €15 a month – for membership fees in sports, music and cultural clubs, for lessons in artistic subjects such as music school, and for holiday camps. Over a year that amounts to €180 per child, which in many clubs covers the entire annual membership fee. Many clubs know the procedure and settle directly with the local authority; ask the club about this, and then you do not have to pay anything in advance.
Are class trips paid for in full?
Yes. For one-day school outings and multi-day class trips, the actual costs are covered – unlike school supplies, there is no flat rate and no cap set by the standard rate here. Timing is decisive: submit the school's announcement as soon as the letter to parents arrives, and not only after the trip. Only then is the approval in place before the registration deadline, and you neither have to pay in advance nor have your child withdraw. Many schools now settle directly with the local authority – ask the school office about this.
How do I get learning support approved?
With a statement from the school – this is the crucial point at which most applications fail. The support must be suitable and necessary to achieve the essential learning objectives; a general wish for tutoring is not enough. Therefore speak to the class teacher early and ask for a written assessment that names the subject, scope and goal – for example: two hours of mathematics a week until the half-year, to secure progression to the next year. The more specific this statement, the more likely it is to be approved. Do not wait until shortly before the school reports; processing takes time, and the support should be able to take effect.
Who is responsible?
This depends on which benefit your household receives, and local authorities organise it differently. Anyone receiving social assistance or basic income support is right to go to the Sozialamt; anyone receiving Grundsicherungsgeld, generally to the Jobcenter. For Wohngeld and Kinderzuschlag, it is usually the local authority – often a dedicated office for education and participation, located within the social welfare, youth welfare or education office. Because there is no uniform nationwide allocation for this, a call to the Bürgerservice (citizens’ office) saves the most detours here. The only important thing is that you get started at all – the offices pass applications on.
Does this also apply to Kita children?
Partly, yes. Communal lunch is also covered in child daycare centres and in childminding, as are Kita outings. The €15 a month for participation applies to all children under 18 and therefore also to Kita children – for example, for the fee at a gymnastics club or for early musical education. The personal school supplies allowance, on the other hand, presupposes school attendance and begins with school enrolment. If you have a Kita child and a school child, apply for both in a single process and explicitly indicate which child needs which component.
What if an application is refused?
Request a written notice with a statement of reasons and lodge an objection within one month. The most common grounds for refusal can be challenged specifically: with learning support, the school's statement is usually missing – obtain it afterwards. With school transport, it is often objected that the school is not the nearest one – explain why the chosen type of education is offered there. With outings, it often fails due to late submission. Free help is offered by social associations, school social work and social advice centres; school social work also knows local practice and often helps the fastest.
