Allowance for Trainees Living at Home
For trainees who continue to live at home during their vocational training (Ausbildung), a lower allowance for living costs is applied. The reasoning behind this is that parents generally continue to incur significant expenses such as food, accommodation, and utility costs. The allowance is merely intended to help cover minor personal expenses of the trainee. Currently, this allowance amounts to approximately 325 Euros per month. However, this amount is regularly reviewed and adjusted if necessary.
Allowance for Independently Living Trainees
For trainees who live outside the parental home during their training period, a significantly higher allowance is granted. This allowance takes into account the costs for rent, food, and other expenses that arise from independent living. Currently, this allowance is around 780 Euros per month. It aims to ensure that the trainee can independently finance their basic needs without relying on parental support.
Additional Allowances for Special Needs
In addition to the allowance for general living costs, further allowances may be granted to cover special needs of the trainee. These additional allowances include:
- Travel Cost Allowance: This is granted if the trainee must regularly commute between their home and the training establishment. The amount of the allowance depends on the distance between the home and the training site.
- Allowance for Work Materials: This allowance is intended to cover expenses for learning materials, tools, and other necessary work materials required for the vocational training (Ausbildung). It is granted as a flat rate regardless of actual costs.
- Supplement for Severe Disability: Trainees with a recognized severe disability may receive an additional supplement to cover special needs associated with the disability. This includes, for example, costs for aids or special transportation.
Calculation of Allowances
The Federal Employment Agency calculates the allowances based on the current living costs in Germany. Regular adjustments are made to account for changes in living costs, such as inflation. The allowances are intended to ensure that trainees have an adequate financial level for their basic needs during their training period.
No Consideration of Individual Deviations
The allowances for living costs are set as fixed amounts and serve to simplify the calculation. Individual differences in the actual expenses of the trainee, such as higher rent costs in certain regions, are generally not considered. Trainees whose actual costs significantly exceed the allowances cannot apply for an increase in vocational training assistance (Berufsausbildungsbeihilfe).
Adjustment of Allowances
The allowances for living costs and special needs are reviewed annually by the competent authorities and adjusted if necessary. This adjustment is based on current developments regarding average living costs in Germany. The new figures are usually announced at the beginning of the training year.
Important Notes for Trainees
Trainees applying for vocational training assistance (Berufsausbildungsbeihilfe) should accurately state their living situation and any special needs so that the Federal Employment Agency can set appropriate allowances. Incomplete or incorrect information may result in the BAB benefit being calculated too low.
Relevance of Allowances for BAB Calculation
The allowances for living costs form the basis for calculating the BAB benefit. Together with the assessable income of the trainee and their parents, this results in the actual funding amount. The allowances are especially important for independently living trainees, as they provide the basis for calculating rental and living costs.