Disability disclosure in German job applications

In Germany, applicants with disabilities face specific legal considerations regarding whether to disclose their degree of disability (GdB) during the job application process. According to the social association VdK Deutschland, there is no general obligation to disclose a disability in an application. However, disclosure is recommended if the disability is obvious or if specific workplace accommodations are required.

For public service positions, disclosing a severe disability is highly advised. Public employers are legally obligated to invite severely disabled applicants to interviews, provided they meet the necessary qualifications. To claim this right, applicants should include a copy of their disability certificate.

A recent ruling by the Munich Labor Court (case number 27 Ca 9020/25) highlights the risks of insufficient disclosure. The court rejected a claim for at least 40,000 euros in compensation for discrimination after an applicant failed to explicitly state his disability in his cover letter or CV. Although the applicant had uploaded an official document showing a GdB of 90 as an attachment, the court ruled that the employer was not sufficiently informed because the status was not clearly and expressly communicated.