Support for the Social Ticket

The state of North Rhine-Westphalia supports the introduction and continuation of social tickets in local public transport (ÖPNV) through an annual grant model. The aim of this funding is to ensure mobility and social participation for all population groups as well as to strengthen local public transport in the long term. Funding applications must be submitted bindingly to the Arnsberg District Government by September 15 of the previous year. A prerequisite is that a social ticket has already been introduced in the respective area or will be launched by a specified date in the funding year. The Social Ticket Guidelines 2011, most recently amended by the circular decree of the Ministry of Transport, form the legal basis and apply at least until January 1, 2026. Eligible for funding are financial expenditures for social tickets, whereby a fixed-amount financing reflects the ratio of required funds to the number of eligible beneficiaries according to SGB II and SGB XII in the respective area.

Eligible applicants include districts and independent cities as well as special-purpose associations or joint institutions established for the purpose of local public transport. Only expenses directly incurred for the financing of the social ticket are eligible for funding; administrative costs, personnel expenses of the grant recipients, and external consultancy fees are excluded. The presence or timely introduction of the social ticket serves as the basis for evaluation. Upon successful approval, payments are made in two equal installments on May 1 and October 1 of each year. For accounting purposes, a simplified proof of use (basic template 3) must be submitted, confirming that the funds were used appropriately and entirely to reduce prices or cover revenue shortfalls.