Training Allowance (Ausbildungsgeld)

The same regulations apply for training allowance as for vocational training assistance (Berufsausbildungsbeihilfe).
Additionally, there are special regulations applying only to training allowance. This applies especially to the determination of requirement for training allowance and consideration of income.

An entitlement to training allowance exists if you are a disabled person and you are

• participating in vocational training for the first time or
• participating in a work preparation scheme including basic training or
• participate in in-company qualification within the framework of supported employment (unterstützte Beschäftigung - UB) in accordance with Section 38a German Social Code Book Three (Unterstützte Beschäftigung) or
• in the entry procedure or a vocational training programme of a sheltered workshop.

Therefore, usually juvenile disabled persons who have not yet completed vocational training are entitled to training allowance.
Your guidance counsellor will check whether the basic requirements are met in your specific case.

The amount of training allowance depends on two factors:

• the rate of requirement of training allowance and
• the income to be considered in case of vocational training.

Principle of calculation:
Requirement - deductible income = training allowance to be paid
If you are participating in a work preparation scheme or in a supported employment measure or receiving benefits in an entry procedure or a vocational training programme of a sheltered workshop, your income is generally not considered.

Just like for vocational training assistance there are also certain lump sums (= requirement) determined for training allowance for living expenses arising during the participation in a training measure. This means that not the individual expenses for e.g. rent, clothing or food are paid, but fixed rates.

The regulations for vocational training assistance also apply to the consideration of income on the total requirement if SGB III does not contain any particularities for training allowance.
It generally applies that:
If you are completing vocational training,

• your income,
• the income of your spouse if not constantly separated or your partner and
• your parents’ income if you are living with your parents during this measure,

is considered in this order following the regulations of the Federal Educational Assistance Act (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz - BAföG).

Therefore, please also read up on vocational training assistance.

If you are participating in a work preparation scheme or in a supported employment measure or you are receiving benefits in an entry procedure or a vocational education programme of a sheltered workshop, your income is generally not considered.

If you are receiving orphan's pension (Waisenrente), orphan's allowance (Waisengeld) or maintenance allowances, 242 € are not considered for the training allowance. Therefore, also the allowable deductions when considering the income of both parents or one parent and the spouse/partner are higher or considered differently for separated parents than for vocational training assistance.

An overview on allowable deductions:

• 3,113 € for married and not permanently separated parents
• 1,940 € for a widowed parent
• 1,940 € for separated parents; if the parents are separated, only the income of the parent you are living with or have been living with before the beginning of the measure is considered
• 1,940 € for your spouse or partner

Training allowance can generally only be granted for the duration of the participation in the measure. When discontinuing for health reasons, the training allowance is granted until the end of the third calendar month following the beginning of the illness, but at the longest until the planned end of the measure. When calculating the period of three months, the day of falling ill is included.

Examples:

Illness as of 02. February
Planned end of measure 31. July
Entitlement to training allowance until 31. May

Illness as of 01. February
Planned end of measure 31. July
Entitlement to training allowance until 30. April

Illness as of 02. February
Planned end of measure 20. May
Entitlement to training allowance until 20. May

For absence for other health reasons, a claim for training allowance only exists if an important reason for discontinuing the participation is approved by the Employment Agency. Important reasons are for example:

• marriage
• birth of a child
• change of place of residence or
• attendance of a court trial.

Training allowance is also paid for holidays if they are during the measure and the Employment Agency has approved them as part of the measure.
Entitlement to training allowance is usually decided upon in the case of a vocational training for 18 months, apart from that for one year (= period of allowance). If the measure takes longer, the Employment Agency will automatically send a questionnaire for a further grant of training allowance.