Non-attachable Assets
Certain assets are not considered in the Bafög calculation as they are deemed necessary for living expenses or retirement provision. These include:
- Appropriate Retirement Provision: Assets intended for private retirement provision remain exempt from consideration up to a reasonable amount. This includes, for example, Riester pensions or company pension schemes.
- Household Items: Common household items like furniture, appliances, and personal belongings are not classified as assets and therefore remain disregarded.
Self-occupied Properties
A property in which the applicant resides is not counted as an asset, as it is considered necessary living space. This applies regardless of whether it is a home or a condominium. The condition is that the property is actually lived in by the applicant and is not rented out.
Designated Assets
Assets that are earmarked for a specific purpose and are not freely available are also disregarded. These include:
- Building Savings Contracts: Building savings contracts intended for the purchase or construction of a self-occupied property can remain exempt from consideration under certain conditions.
- Education or Training Funds: Assets explicitly reserved for financing vocational training (Ausbildung), such as educational funds, remain exempt up to a certain amount.
Exempt Amounts for Special Life Situations
In certain life situations, additional exempt amounts can be granted, reducing the assessable assets. These include:
- Maintenance Obligations: If the applicant is obligated to support a spouse or children, an additional exempt amount of 2,300 euros per dependent person is granted.
- Care Costs: Assets allocated for covering care costs of a close relative are disregarded, provided this is demonstrated.
Special Regulations for Inheritances
Inheritances received by the applicant during the approval period are generally counted as assets. However, exceptions can be made in certain cases if the inheritance is earmarked, for example, for debt repayment or the acquisition of a self-occupied property.
Assets Abroad
Assets located abroad are also considered, provided they are freely available. In certain cases, such as blocked assets or assets in crisis countries, an exception can be made if the applicant proves that they cannot access the assets.
Proof for Exceptions
To have exceptions considered in the recognition of assets, appropriate documentation must be provided. This includes:
- Contracts and certifications regarding retirement provision.
- Registration certificate for self-occupied property.
- Contracts for building savings or educational funds.
- Proof of maintenance obligations and care costs.