Political Prisoners (Former): Support
Service description
Persons who, as a result of detention for political reasons in the GDR or in the areas specified in § 1(2)(3) 3 of the Federal Displaced Persons Act, as well as their surviving dependents, shall be granted, upon application, a pension and/or medical and health care in accordance with the Prisoners’ Assistance Act (HHG).
Persons who were judicially rehabilitated following an unlawful deprivation of liberty in the GDR shall, upon application, receive compensation for imprisonment (lump-sum compensation) as well as reimbursement of fines, costs, and expenses under the Criminal Rehabilitation Act (StrRehaG).Prisoners who have been deprived of their liberty for at least 180 days in a manner incompatible with the fundamental principles of a free society governed by the rule of law may, if in need, receive a special monthly allowance of up to 300.00 euros.
Social compensation benefits for disadvantages suffered by the affected person as a result of deprivation of liberty always require criminal rehabilitation. Applications for rehabilitation may still be filed with the competent courts and rehabilitation authorities in the new federal states and in Berlin until December 31, 2019. The same
application deadline applies to subsequent claims arising from the rehabilitation.What documents are required?
- Certificate pursuant to § 10(4) of the HHG (applied for by November 4, 1992)
- A rehabilitation decision issued by a court with a rehabilitation chamber, provided that no certificate pursuant to § 10(4) HHG was applied for prior to November 4, 1992. In such cases, the authorities within whose jurisdiction the rehabilitation decision was issued are always responsible for granting the lump-sum compensation and the allowance under Sections 17 and 17a of the StrRehaG.
Legal basis