If your child has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you have the possibility to apply for a so-called ” grade of disability”. In most federal states, the application is made at the pension office, but in some federal states there are no longer pension offices and the responsibilities have been transferred to the cities and municipalities. The authorities responsible for the individual federal states as well as application forms for downloading can be found at: www.integrationsaemter.de.
The determination of the grade of disability is based on the severity of the “social adaption difficulties”, so it does not only depend on the diagnosis itself:
- without social adaption difficulties, the grade is 10-20,
- with mild social adaptation difficulties, the grade is 30-40,
- with moderate social adaptation difficulties, the grade is 50-70,
- with severe social adaptation difficulties, the grade is 80-100
Social adaption difficulties exist in particular if the ability to integrate into areas of life (such as regular kindergarten, regular school, general labor market, public life, domestic life) is not possible without special support or assistance (for example, through integration assistance) or if the persons concerned require supervision that goes beyond the level appropriate to their age. Moderate social adaption difficulties exist in particular if integration into areas of life is not possible without comprehensive support (for example, an integration specialist as integration assistance). Severe social adaption difficulties exist in particular if integration into areas of life is not possible even with comprehensive support (Annex to §2 of the Supply Medicine Ordinance).
If the grade of disability is 50 or more, it is called a severe disability and exclusively in this case a severe disability certificate is handed out.
Furthermore, it is checked whether the requirements for so-called marks are fulfilled. The grade of disability and the mark are entered on the severe disability certificate. Depending on the determined grade and the assigned marks, certain disadvantage compensations can be claimed.
So berechtigt beispielsweise das Merkzeichen H („Hilflos“) zur unentgeltlichen Beförderung im öffentlichen Nahverkehr und das Merkzeichen B („Begleitung“) zur zusätzlichen unentgeltlichen Beförderung einer ständigen Begleitperson im öffentlichen Nahverkehr.
Darüber hinaus sind steuerliche Ermäßigungen, oder unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen, die Weiterzahlung des Kindergeldes bis zum 25. Lebensjahr und darüber hinaus möglich.
Weitere Informationen zu Nachteilsausgleichen und zu Hilfen bei Behinderungen finden Sie auch unter: