Vocational training allowance and BAföG: Money during training and school

In short: If money during training does not suffice, the vocational training allowance (BAB) can help; for school and university there is BAföG. Both are applied for and mostly need not be repaid.

In more detail: Anyone doing an apprenticeship who does not live with the parents does not always get by on the training pay. State aid compensates partly. Amounts and rules change; check the current status with the responsible body.

In Depth

Vocational training allowance (BAB)

The BAB is paid by the Federal Employment Agency to trainees in a recognised company-based or school-based training. Requirement: you do not live with your parents (or the commute is too far, you have a child or are married) and your own income and your parents’ income do not suffice for living costs and training costs. The calculation counts pay, parental income (with allowances), rent and travel costs. BAB is not repaid. The application should be made early, ideally before training starts, because there is usually nothing retroactively.

BAföG

BAföG exists for pupils (secondary schools, vocational schools when they do not live at home or meet certain conditions) and students. For students it is usually a half grant and an interest-free loan with a repayment cap; school BAföG is entirely a grant. The responsible offices are the offices for training support (student services or municipalities). During company-based training there is no BAföG, but the BAB instead.

Other aid

• Child benefit and possibly child supplement for the parents.
• Housing benefit when other benefits do not apply.
• Citizen’s income supplementary in certain situations.
• Mobility grants or grants from individual companies, Deutschlandticket subsidy.
• Scholarships (for example further-training scholarship) for good performance.
• Training allowance for people with disabilities.

Practical tips

Gather documents early: training contract, rental contract, proof of parents’ income, bank statements. Apply immediately even if documents are missing (submitting later is possible). In case of errors file an objection within one month. Advice is offered by the employment agency’s career counselling, chambers, unions and welfare associations.

See also: Training contract, Child benefit, Social insurance