Understanding the support system: who is responsible for what?

Legal position as of: 8 October 2026 (federal law, checked against the text of the statutes). Who is responsible locally is partly regulated by the federal states (Länder). The versions in force at the time you submit your application apply.

Five groups of participation benefits

To enable participation in society, SGB IX provides: benefits for medical rehabilitation, for participation in working life, maintenance-securing and other supplementary benefits, benefits for participation in education, and benefits for social participation. ^[1]

Who may be responsible for what

Support	Body that may be responsible	More
Degree of disability, severe disability card (Schwerbehindertenausweis)	the authority responsible for determination, on application [6]	Severe disability card and degree of disability
Care level, care benefits	care insurance fund; benefits on application [8]	Care level in autism; care benefits
Integration assistance for children and adolescents with a mental disability	youth welfare office [7]	§ 35a SGB VIII
Integration assistance under SGB IX	provider of integration assistance, determined by the federal state [5]	Integration assistance under SGB IX
Medical rehabilitation, participation in working life	depending on the case, health insurance fund, Federal Employment Agency, pension insurance and other rehabilitation providers [2]	Making applications and lodging an appeal

The table shows who may come into question. Which body is actually responsible in your case depends on age, the kind of benefit and the individual circumstances.

When responsibility is unclear

For participation benefits, the rehabilitation provider checks within two weeks of receiving the application whether it is responsible and otherwise forwards the application without delay to the provider it considers responsible. ^[3] So you do not have to work out beforehand which body is the right one before you apply. Keep a record of the date and proof of submission. Details: Making applications and lodging an appeal.

Advice

• From the rehabilitation providers themselves: Advice is part of their duties. ^[4]
• Independent and before applying: The supplementary independent participation advice service (EUTB), funded by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, is independent of the benefit providers. ^[4] More on this: Finding advice.

Where to read on

• Managing benefits as money yourself: Personal budget
• The 18th birthday: Coming of age at 18
• School: Applying for a school support worker
• Relief for families: Relief for families

Sources and literature

1. § 5 SGB IX – Leistungsgruppen (www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_9_2018/__5.html). – Statute (in German)
2. § 6 SGB IX – Rehabilitationsträger (www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_9_2018/__6.html). – Statute (in German)
3. § 14 SGB IX – Leistender Rehabilitationsträger (www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_9_2018/__14.html). – Statute (in German)
4. § 32 SGB IX – Ergänzende unabhängige Teilhabeberatung (www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_9_2018/__32.html). – Statute (in German)
5. § 94 SGB IX – Aufgaben der Länder (www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_9_2018/__94.html). – Statute (in German)
6. § 152 SGB IX – Feststellung der Behinderung, Ausweise (www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_9_2018/__152.html). – Statute (in German)
7. § 35a SGB VIII – Eingliederungshilfe für seelisch behinderte Kinder und Jugendliche (www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_8/__35a.html). – Statute (in German)
8. § 33 SGB XI – Leistungsvoraussetzungen (www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_11/__33.html). – Statute (in German)