Financial assistance

The financial assistance cannot undo the suffering of those who experienced sexual abuse. In order to better cope with its consequences, many victims and survivors need psychological and medical support over a long period of time.

The financial assistance listed here can go some way towards helping to cover these costs and returning to a better life. However, obtaining such financial assistance can take a lot of time and energy. Many judicial and administrative requirements must be met to be awarded compensation. You should be prepared for that and also get support. If you decide to apply for financial assistance, we recommend that you seek advice from the relevant specialised advice and counselling centres. You can find a selection of advice and counseling centres here.

People who suffered sexual abuse during their childhood or adolescence may be entitled to compensation under certain conditions. Until 2024, this was governed by the Crime Victims Compensation Act (OEG). The new legal basis as of 1 January 2024 is the Social Compensation Law – Book XIV of the Social Code (SGB XIV).

People who suffered sexual abuse during their childhood or adolescence may be entitled to compensation under certain conditions. Until 2024, this was governed by the Crime Victims Compensation Act (OEG). The new legal basis as of 1 January 2024 is the Social Compensation Law – Book XIV of the Social Code (SGB XIV).
You are entitled to state compensation in accordance with Book XIV of the Social Code if your health has been impaired and you incur costs as a result, e.g. for therapies, travel to attend medical appointments or for aids. The options for compensation available to victims of sexual violence are governed by law and depend largely on the severity and long-term nature of the damage to their health.

Possible assistance includes:

• remedial and medical treatments (including psychotherapy)
• pension benefits (depending on the severity of the impact on your health and on your income)
• welfare benefits (e.g. for participation in working life, care, upkeep of the household and benefits to help with living expenses)
• rehabilitation measures (e.g. stays at a health resort)
• rapid assistance such as trauma clinics (e.g. for short-notice outpatient trauma counselling) and case management for timely support

You must submit an application to receive financial assistance. The social security authorities in your respective Land are usually responsible for processing applications. An advice and counseling centre can help you with this and lawyers can also offer support. You can find your nearest point of contact here.

In addition, case managers are available to assist you. Case managers are specially trained contact persons who will guide you individually through the process, support you in submitting your application and help you find the right benefits for your situation.

The application process can take a long time and can be stressful.

You can find out more about the benefits available, the requirements and the application process on the website of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

In addition to the entitlement to pension benefits under the victim compensation law, as a victim and survivor of sexual violence in childhood and adolescence you may also be entitled to a reduced earning capacity pension.

This may be the case if you have health problems and are therefore no longer able to support yourself through gainful employment. This also includes health impairments that are the result of having suffered violent acts such as sexual abuse. Whether an insured person is entitled to a reduced earning capacity pension depends on the extent to which the insured person's capacity to work is impaired. Once a person has reached retirement age, the reduced earning capacity pension is replaced by the normal pension.

Good to know: The reduced earning capacity pension / normal old-age pension and the entitlement to compensatory benefits ("Beschädigtenrente") under the OEG are not mutually exclusive. However, the pension from the statutory pension insurance counts as income when working out how much compensatory benefit you are entitled to.

This is what you can do

You have to apply for the reduced earning capacity pension. It is advisable to seek advice beforehand. Such advice is offered by advice and counselling centres and lawyers. The German pension insurance ("Deutsche Rentenversicherung") also offers advice on its website. You can also download the application forms from pension insurance website. An online brochure of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs offers information about the reduced earning capacity pension.

Statutory accident insurance is designed to protect people from accidents and health hazards at work or in an honorary position.

If something happens to someone during these activities, the insurance is there to restore the insured person's health and ability to work. Accident insurance also protects children and adolescents in nurseries, kindergartens, day care centres or schools. This includes the prevention of sexual violence in these institutions, for example, by providing the staff with the necessary training. If an assault does occur, the victim is entitled to compensation.

The management of the facility in question reports such an incident to the statutory accident insurance. As soon as the statutory accident insurance has been informed, it takes official action. This means that, as a rule, the victim does not have to submit a separate application. The benefits of statutory accident insurance include:

• Medical care; 
• Professional and social participation (such as housing benefit, household help, childcare costs); 
• Cash benefits and other compensation; 
• Care. 

Would you like to know what you are eligible for? You can also contact statutory accident insurance here.

The Protestant and Catholic churches have different compensation systems.

Catholic Church

The Catholic Church has agreed on a procedure for the "recognition of suffering" for victims of sexual violence in the context of the Catholic Church. The payments as part of this procedure range from 1,000 to 50,000 euros and are not paid out for any specific purpose. The Catholic Church also covers therapy and couples counselling costs. The compensation payments are also paid out for statute-barred offences. Would you like to find out more or submit an application? You can find information and the application form of the Catholic Church here. The Catholic Church also participates in the supplementary assistance system (EHS) via the German Bishops' Conference.

Protestant Church

The Protestant Church participates in the supplementary assistance system (EHS). In addition, independent commissions ("Unabhängige Kommissionen") were set up by the individual regional churches. They decide on whether financial assistance will be provided on a case-by-case basis, such as for therapy or recognition benefits ("Anerkennungsleistungen"). The various regional churches each have their own specific procedures. For more information, please get in touch with the central "help" point of contact.

In vielen Bundesländern können Betroffene von Straftaten finanzielle Unterstützung von Stiftungen oder Einrichtungen der Opferhilfe erhalten.

In many federal states, victims of crime can receive financial support from foundations or victim assistance institutions. You can find a selection of such services in the "Finding help“ section.

Klicken Sie hier für weitere Informations-Angebote.

• Informationen zum Opferentschädigungsrecht
• Broschüre „Hilfe für Opfer von Gewalttaten“
• Flyer „Hilfe für Opfer von Gewalttaten“