According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 7.9 million severely disabled people live in Germany. Disabilities occur mainly in the elderly, according to Destatis.
One third of all Germans who suffer from the following diseases are classified as severely disabled. The recognition of a chronic illness as a disability goes back to a judgment of the European Court of Justice with case numbers C-335/11 and C-337/11, which is intended to protect those affected from possible discrimination. The application for severe disability is submitted to the pension office or the Office for Social Affairs.