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GEZ reduction: Those who have to pay less broadcasting fees - also retrospectively

2023-01-26T16:10:10.178Z


Consumers normally pay 18.36 euros for the broadcasting fee - but for some only a third of the GEZ fee is due.


Consumers normally pay 18.36 euros for the broadcasting fee - but for some only a third of the GEZ fee is due.

Update from January 26, 2023:

By the way: The GEZ writes to households in Germany - ignoring has expensive consequences.

First report from January 25, 2023:

Hamburg – Why do all Germans actually have to pay the license fee, even if they don't have a television or radio at home?

The answer is simple: based on the income, the public service broadcaster wants to guarantee independent and diverse reporting - free from economic and political interests - to which every consumer should make his or her contribution.

In fact, there are groups of people who are granted a reduction in the (former) GEZ contribution and who “only” have to pay the contribution service 6.12 euros a month instead of the full 18.36 euros.

Which people this applies to.

Community facility:

ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Contribution Service (formerly GEZ)

Founder:

ARD

Founding:

1973

Seat:

Cologne

Pay less GEZ: How high is the reduction in the broadcasting fee – and who is entitled to it?

ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio are committed to providing barrier-free access to the majority of their programs.

According to its own statements, the contribution service (formerly GEZ) "places great importance on the barrier-free implementation of the website", the offer is constantly being expanded and, in general, the information offers and communication options are designed as actively as possible - so that "everyone is independent of their personal or technical possibilities can perceive and use this without restriction," says the website of the contribution service.

+

Some people can get a reduction in the broadcasting fee (formerly GEZ fee) - who that affects.

(24hamburg.de assembly)

© Soeren Stache / dpa

However, people with disabilities can still apply for a reduced broadcasting fee – at least if they have a certain degree of disability.

If the application is approved, they then only have to pay a third of the contribution, namely 6.12 euros per month.

If people with disabilities also receive certain social benefits, they can apply for a complete waiver of the GEZ fee - this also applies to recipients of citizen benefit, deaf-blind people and students who receive BAföG.

Under certain circumstances, pensioners can also be exempted from paying the license fee.

Why are we still talking about GEZ fees?

With the conversion of broadcasting financing from the previous fee model to the new contribution model on January 1, 2013, the GEZ (Fee Collection Center) was renamed “ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Contribution Service”.

Actually, the radio contribution should therefore no longer be referred to as a GEZ fee.

However, since the alternative sounds much more bureaucratic and doesn't come out quickly, the term GEZ is still used in the vernacular.

Under what conditions can the GEZ fees be reduced?

But back to the reduction in the broadcasting fee: people with the RF mark in their severely disabled pass are entitled to this.

With this sign, holders are entitled to a reduction in broadcasting fees and a reduction in telephone charges from Deutsche Telekom.

However, certain conditions must be met for this.

Get a reduction in GEZ contributions:

  • Disabled people whose degree of disability is not only temporarily at least 80 and who, because of their condition, are constantly unable to take part in public events and who have been awarded the RF mark.

  • Blind people or people with significant visual impairments that are not only temporarily impaired, with a degree of disability of at least 60 simply because of the visual impairment and who have been awarded the RF mark.

  • Hearing-impaired people who are deaf or who cannot adequately communicate by hearing even with hearing aids and who have been awarded the RF mark.

Apply for a GEZ reduction: How does it work and what do I need for the application?

The application for a reduction in the broadcasting fee can be filled out online.

To do this, you must select the application data, enter your personal data, check the summary and then print out the application.

You then sign the printout and send it with the required proof to the contribution service in Cologne.

If you do not wish to apply for the discount online, you can also obtain the application from the relevant city and community authorities.

However, the ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio contribution service points out that the application should not be submitted before the necessary evidence is available.

When moving, you should also pay attention to a few things regarding the GEZ contribution.

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Proof of a disability - this is how you get the GEZ fees reduced

But what proof is required?

In order to apply for a reduction in the GEZ contribution, you must send in a “legible copy” of one of the following documents, reports the ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio contribution service on its own website.

  • Certificate from the authority on the granting of the mark RF OR

  • Severely handicapped pass (front and back) with code RF

However, you should avoid sending original documents to Cologne as much as possible, as we cannot guarantee that the documents will be returned.

Incidentally, you can also object to the license fee – but when does that really work?

Get reduced broadcasting fees retrospectively – for up to three years

Good to know: The reduction in the license fee does not start with your application, but with the date of the RF mark.

As a result, the reduced license fee can be granted retrospectively for a period of up to three years.

The future duration of the discount also depends on the period of validity of the submitted proof.

Incidentally, relatives of disabled people can also benefit from a reduction in the broadcasting fee, since the "discount" can also affect other people in the apartment.

The spouse or registered civil partner and children up to the age of 25 do not pay any additional contribution if they live with a person with an RF mark.

By the way: Longer child benefit for children with disabilities – it depends on the year of birth.

List of rubrics: © Soeren Stache / dpa

Source: merkur

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