Assistance Services Fund

The Assistance Services Fund of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour, Health and Equality supports people with severe disabilities in Lower Saxony who require assistance and are engaged voluntarily in leadership roles or committees. The aim is to dismantle barriers and enable equal participation in social and political life. The fund grants subsidies of up to €2,750 per calendar year to cover disability-related assistance services, for example, sign language, Lorm, and written interpreters or transmission systems. Through this voluntary discretionary benefit, the additional expenses incurred when performing voluntary work compared to non-disabled volunteers are compensated.

Eligible are persons with habitual residence in Lower Saxony who hold the disability identification card with the markers B, Bl, H, Gl, or TBl and perform their voluntary activities unpaid or for an expense allowance. Proof of regularly required assistance services as well as the voluntary function in a registered association, a political party, or a public body (council, district council, state parliament, municipal advisory boards) is required. Applications can be submitted throughout the year, retroactively up to twelve months. A separate application is required for each calendar year. Required documents are the application form, the disability identification card, proof of voluntary activity, and invoices for assistance services. The granting authority makes its decision within the scope of its discretionary powers, taking into account the available budgetary funds.