From a certain degree of disability, a severely disabled person's pass can be applied for. The document brings many advantages for people with disabilities.
Hamburg – A severely disabled person's pass can make life much easier for people with disabilities. It can be used to prove health impairments by recording the degree of disability, special marks and the validity of the ID card in the document. But who can apply for the card and what specific advantages does it bring?
According to the Social Security Code, all people are considered disabled if they have "physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with attitudinal and environmental barriers, are likely to prevent them from participating in society on an equal basis for more than six months". However, a severely disabled person's pass may only be issued from a certain degree of disability (GdB).
Apply for a severely disabled person's pass: Degree of disability must be determined
In order to determine this, the portal for people with disabilities einfach.teilhaben.de recommends visiting the family doctor, who can usually give an initial consultation on the entitlement to a severely disabled person's card. Subsequently, all documents that provide information about the disability must be submitted to the pension office. These include, for example, findings from attending physicians, evidence of hospital visits or laboratory reports. On the basis of these documents, the pension office checks whether there is a severe disability.
The severely disabled person's pass records the marks, the degree of disability and the expiry date. © Becker&Bredel/imago
For this purpose, the degree of physical or mental impairment is measured in increments of ten on a scale of 20 to 100. Not only existing diagnoses are taken into account, but also the limitations that the applicants suffer from due to their disability. As can be seen from the Health Care Medicine Ordinance, there is a disability from a degree of 20. People who have a degree of more than 50 are considered severely disabled and can therefore apply for a severely disabled person's pass.
There are different marks on the severely disabled person's ID card
If approved, applicants will receive the ID card in the form of a credit card. As a rule, the document is limited to a maximum of five years – regardless of the type of disability. When the ID card expires is noted on the card next to the degree of disability. In addition, the pension office determines certain marks, which are also shown on the ID card and help employers, employment agencies or tax offices to classify the health impairment.
| "G" – significant walking disability | Walking is only possible from short distances. |
| "B" – Authorization to take an accompanying person with you | Dependent on help when using buses and trains. |
| "aG" – exceptional walking disability | Walking without a wheelchair is hardly possible. |
| "RF" – exemption from broadcasting fees | Severely visually impaired or hearing-impaired people. |
| "Gl" – Deaf | Deaf or severe hearing loss in both ears. |
| "Bl" – Blind | Eyesight is absent or vision is severely impaired. |
| "H" – helplessness | Daily routine can only be coped with with help. |
| "TBL" – deafblind | People who are deaf and blind. |
By providing proof, severely disabled people can claim special rights in their professional lives, for example. As the social association VdK explains, for example, people with a severely disabled person's ID card are subject to special regulations on protection against dismissal. A dismissal can only take place if the employer has previously extensively checked whether the person concerned can be deployed elsewhere and after approval of the dismissal by the Integration Office. According to einfach-teilhaben.de, people who are in possession of a severely disabled person's card and work five days a week also receive an additional week of vacation per year.
Apply for a severely disabled person's pass: Early retirement possible
As the German Pension Insurance explains, the retirement age also changes with a severe disability. Insured persons who have a severely disabled person's pass can therefore retire two years before the general standard retirement age. With deductions, it is also possible to retire even earlier – this also applies to people without severe disabilities. In addition, disabled people receive benefits on their tax return by being able to claim a tax allowance of up to 3,700 euros on their income tax return.
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Financial relief is also offered by the possibility of applying for a reduction in broadcasting fees. Parents with disabled children can also benefit from financial relief. Depending on the age group, you may be entitled to an extension of child benefit.
Application for a severely disabled person's pass: The advantages at a glance
- Five additional vacation days for a five-day week
- Early retirement
- Special protection against dismissal
- Lump sum for tax returns
- Free use of public transport
In order for people with physical and mental disabilities to remain mobile in everyday life, some groups are allowed to use buses and trains free of charge, depending on their disability. The prerequisite is an entry of the marks H (helplessness) and Bi (blindness) in the severely disabled person's pass. But according to the VdK, car owners also benefit from the document: If the mark aG (exceptionally handicapped) is present, the vehicle tax is cheaper or omitted and disabled parking spaces may be used.
However, a big catch with the severely disabled person's pass is that it is only valid in Germany. Each country determines for itself who is recognised as severely disabled and what rights come with the status. Consequently, it can be difficult for disabled people to travel abroad. According to the European Commission, it is planned to propose a European Disability Card by the end of 2023, which will then be valid for all EU countries. (tt)