Deadlines for Application Submission
There is no fixed legal deadline for submitting the Bafög application. However, funding begins at the earliest from the month in which the complete application is submitted. This means that all required documents must be submitted no later than the beginning of the first month of the vocational training (Ausbildung) if the applicant wishes to be funded from that point onwards.
Retroactive Funding
Retroactive funding is not possible. The Bafög office approves benefits starting from the month of application submission, provided the application is complete. To avoid delays in approval, applicants should ensure that all required evidence and documents are included at the time of submitting the application.
Processing Time of the Application
The processing time of a Bafög application varies depending on the region, application volume, and completeness of the submitted documents. Generally, the processing time is between six and eight weeks. Incomplete applications or additional inquiries may extend the processing duration.
Faster Processing Through Complete Application Submission
To shorten the processing time, applicants should ensure that the application is fully and correctly filled out. All required documents, such as parents’ income statements, proof of the vocational training institution (Ausbildung), and proof of personal income and assets, should be submitted directly with the application. Incomplete applications lead to additional requests and delay processing.
Extension of Funding
If the vocational training (Ausbildung) extends beyond the original duration, a follow-up application must be submitted in due time to continue receiving funding. Ideally, the follow-up application should be submitted several weeks before the expiration of the current approval period to ensure seamless continuation of payments.