LWL Budget for Work

The program "LWL Budget for Employment" of the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) aims to enable people with significant disabilities to transition from workshops for disabled persons (WfbM) or comparable institutions into the primary labor market in North Rhine-Westphalia. It supports employees from Westphalian-Lippe WfbMs, persons with recognized severe disabilities or special educational needs, as well as job-seeking individuals with mental illnesses. It combines statutory benefits (§ 61/§ 61a SGB IX) and supplements them with subsidies for wage costs, training allowances, and professional support. Ongoing subsidies cover up to 75% of the adjusted gross wage costs and can be granted for up to five years. Additionally, inclusion bonuses of up to €4,000 for permanent and €2,000 for fixed-term employment contracts, as well as individual inclusion budgets for qualification measures, are available.

Applications can be submitted up to three months after the start of the social security-obligated employment or training relationship; a minimum working time of 15 hours per week (from 12 hours in inclusion companies) and a contract duration of at least twelve months with collective or local customary remuneration are required for funding. Eligible expenses include wage costs, supervision and support, qualification measures, training allowances, and travel expenses. Application documents include the application form, a professional service statement, employment certificates, and payroll records. Employers can contact the local integration specialist services (IFD) together with potential participants. The offer is continuously open and provides tailored support for inclusive employment in North Rhine-Westphalia.