Germany outlines benefits and application process for the Schwerbehindertenausweis

In Germany a Grad der Behinderung (GdB) of 100 marks the highest level of disability and automatically qualifies a person as severely disabled (Schwerbehindert), a status that begins at GdB 50. Holders of a Schwerbehindertenausweis receive a range of advantages: tax relief via the disabled‑person allowance (up to €2,840 per year, or €7,400 for certain merit symbols such as H, Bl or TBl), an extra five days of paid vacation, special job‑security rules that require consent from the integration office before termination, and, for eligible applicants, an early pension. If the merit symbol B is recorded, the card allows a free companion on public transport. The application can be submitted on paper or online to the responsible social authority or district office; applicants need only describe the functional limitations in plain language and may attach medical reports. “Es geht immer um die Frage, inwiefern eine Erkrankung die Teilhabe am gesellschaftlichen Leben beeinträchtigt,” explains Dorothee Czennia of VdK Deutschland. Harald von Steinaecker adds that comprehensive documentation speeds up the decision process.