Brandenburg launches digital platform for social benefit applications

The state of Brandenburg has begun the widespread rollout of a new online social platform designed to digitize the application process for essential social benefits. Following a successful pilot phase in the Elbe-Elster district, the service has recently been activated for residents in the Potsdam-Mittelmark district.

Citizens can now use the platform to apply for various services, including basic security (Grundsicherung), subsistence assistance, education and participation funds, housing entitlement certificates (Wohnberechtigungsschein), and rent arrears coverage. The platform is designed to be barrier-free and multilingual, requiring the use of the online ID function of a national identity card or the BundID for identification.

This initiative is part of a broader digitalization strategy aiming to make essential administrative services fully accessible online by 2029. Currently, eleven additional districts and the state office for social affairs are preparing for implementation, and four out of seven local job centers are already connected to the technical infrastructure.