Severely handicapped ID card - who can get it?

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Severe disability in degrees

Anyone who can prove a degree of disability (GdB) of at least 50 percent is considered severely disabled (according to Book IX of the Social Code) and is entitled to a severely disabled person's pass. The GdB is defined according to how the health impairments affect everyday life. It is graded in degrees from 20 to 100. Individual impairments are only recorded if they alone make a GdB of at least 10.

If you have permanent impairments in all areas of daily life for more than six months, you can apply for recognition of severe disability. This status brings a number of advantages - financial and practical. Therefore, every person in need of care should check whether they meet the requirements for severe disability and whether they can benefit from the ID.

Apply for ID

Since January 1, 2013, ID cards can be issued in credit card format. The pension offices usually process the applications for severe disabilities. Otherwise there are contacts at the local welfare offices, social welfare offices or municipal citizens' offices. Pension offices and municipalities often provide fact sheets and application forms to make the process easier. You can apply for the ID in many federal states on the Internet.

In theory, you can also submit the application informally. You must list all existing disabilities in it. If possible, enclose copies of the current reports from the treating doctor, the most recent hospital letters and any expert opinions with the application. If medical records are not available, all doctors, hospitals and rehabilitation clinics should be identified who could issue an expert opinion or certificate. For this purpose, the (formerly) treating physicians must be released from the obligation of confidentiality in writing in the application.

Check and decide

If necessary, the pension office will commission an appraisal. Otherwise, the doctors at the pension office will make judgments on the basis of the medical reports available. After evaluating all documents, you determine the GdB and decide on recognition as a severely disabled person. The validity of the card is usually limited to five years.

Marks in the ID card

In addition to the passport photo, the issuing authority, the period of validity and the GdB, there are also so-called markings on the ID card. They provide information about the practical effects of the disability. People in need of care often find the symbols G, aG, B, H, RF, Bl and Gl.

»G: Significant mobility impairment: The symbol G describes a considerable impairment of mobility in traffic. This means that the handicapped cannot cover the distances in his district on foot. It only depends on the distances, not on local peculiarities such as uneven ground conditions on the paths around the house. Age-related limitations in walking ability are not taken into account.

»AG: Exceptional mobility impairment: People are considered to be extraordinarily mobility impaired who, due to the severity of their suffering, can only move around continuously with the help of others or only with great effort. These are people who are permanently dependent on a wheelchair, for example after a bilateral upper or lower leg amputation or paraplegia. But anyone who is just as severely handicapped due to an internal ailment such as a cardiovascular or lung disease can apply for Merkzeichen AG.

»B: Entitled to be accompanied at all times: The mark B is given to those who, without constant accompaniment, would not be able to use public transport without endangering themselves and others.

»H: Helplessness: Anyone who needs help from others for at least six months for vital activities such as eating or drinking is given the mark H. The requirements are similar to those for classification in care level 3 of long-term care insurance.

»RF: Exemption from or reduction of the license fee: Deaf-blind people can be completely exempted from license fees. Less visually and hearing impaired people can have the radio fee reduced to 5.83 euros. This also applies to people with disabilities, whose degree of disability is permanently at least 80, who also cannot participate in public events because of their suffering and who have been awarded the "RF" mark.

»Bl: Blind: A person with this indicator is blind, severely visually impaired or visually impaired due to a brain dysfunction (cerebral blind).

Gl: Deaf

The prerequisite for this indicator is deafness in both ears or a hearing loss bordering on deafness if there are also severe speech disorders (difficult to understand spoken language, poor vocabulary).

Advantages of a severely disabled person's pass

If a severely handicapped ID card is issued, the patient and their relatives can take advantage of various benefits and aids, depending on the distinctive feature and degree of disability. This includes:

According to marks

»G: The motor vehicle tax is reduced by 50 percent for severely disabled and deaf people (symbols G and Gl). Alternatively, you can purchase a token for your own contribution, which, in combination with the severely handicapped pass, entitles you to free transport in local public transport. It currently costs 72 euros a year (36 euros every six months). People with low incomes (especially recipients of basic income support) as well as blind and helpless people are exempt from the personal contribution.

»AG: Only severely disabled people with this entry are allowed to park in specially designated parking spaces. You are completely exempt from the vehicle tax and can also receive the token for free public transport.

»B: The accompanying person travels free of charge in local and long-distance public transport in the presence of the person concerned.

»H: If the disabled person is the owner of a vehicle, he is exempt from vehicle tax. The cost of the motor vehicle can also be claimed as an extraordinary burden in tax law. In addition, free public transport is granted. Those who care for a helpless person personally in his or her home of the disabled person can either claim the actual costs or a lump sum for tax purposes.

»RF: These people are exempted or partially exempt from radio license fees and receive a discount on the basic telephone fee. The exemption from contributions must be applied for in writing to the GEZ. Telephone charges can be reduced by submitting an application to Telekom.

»Bl: Blind people can apply for tax breaks, free rides on local public transport, exemption from radio fees and dog tax for their guide dog, and discounts on postage and telephone charges. In Bavaria, blind allowances can also be applied for.

»Gl: Deaf people can take advantage of free public transport or a halving of the vehicle tax on their own vehicle. You have the right to use sign language in administrative proceedings.

Generally

Tax advantages can already be claimed during the assessment. Additional expenses that are necessary for care and treatment are included in the taxable income.

According to Section 574 of the BGB, tenants of an apartment have improved protection against dismissal if the dismissal would mean unreasonable hardship due to the severe disability.

Such an ID has further advantages for working people: Every notice of termination must be approved by the main welfare office of the municipality in which you live. Severely disabled people have five more days of vacation and can retire at the age of 63.

Special case of dementia

In particular, people with dementia are constantly dependent on the support and guidance of others. In advanced stages of the disease, dementia is recognized as a severe disability. Additional physical illnesses are not a necessary requirement.

The application and assessment of the severely disabled status takes place in the same way as in the case of physical disabilities. However, the marks are only given to people with dementia under certain conditions:

»G: If disturbances in attention and orientation, for example, lead to an increased risk of accidents when crossing the street.

»AG: Even the most severe disorientation in people with dementia is not enough to get this mark.

»B: If the use of public transport is only possible with help due to existing disorientation.

»RF: People with dementia are often so able to move that they can attend public events. However, if they suffer from restlessness of movement or speak unpredictably loudly during a performance so that it is impossible to attend a theater performance, a concert or similar event, they too will be exempt from radio license fees.

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