Our social counsellor will answer your questions concerning social insurance, child care, insurances, unemployment benefits, social assistance, students with disabilities or chronic diseases. In addition, our social counsellor knows contact details of other counselling services and important authority contacts.
Consultation hours of the social counselling serviceare Monday and Tuesday from 9.00-12.00 hrs and Thursday from 13.30-16.00 hrs. The contact details of Barbara Toth and Nerea Ulrich can be found on the right.
Im Interview sprechen Nerea Ulrich und Barbara Toth über ihre Arbeit beim Studierendenwerk und über die verschiedenen Unterstützungsmöglichkeiten für Studierende mit Handicap.
1) In welchen Bereichen ist das Studierendenwerk zuständig?
Das Studierendenwerk Freiburg-Schwarzwald, kurz SWFR, ist für die soziale, kulturelle und finanzielle Betreuung und Beratung der Studierenden in der Hochschulregion Freiburg, Lörrach, Offenburg, Gengenbach, Furtwangen, Kehl und Villingen-Schwenningen zuständig – und dies nun schon seit genau 100 Jahren.
2) Wer arbeitet in der Sozialberatung des Studierendenwerks?
Die Sozialberaterinnen Barbara Toth und Nerea Ulrich teilen sich die Stelle in der Sozialberatung. Sie sind die Beauftragten für Studierende mit Behinderungen im Studierendenwerk. Die beiden Sozialpädagoginnen bieten kostenfreie und vertrauliche Beratungen für alle ratsuchende Studierenden auf Deutsch und Englisch an.
3) Für wen sind die Sozialarbeiterinnen des SWFR Ansprechpartnerinnen?
Die Sozialarbeiterinnen Frau Toth und Frau Ulrich bieten Beratung zu allen sozialen Themen und Fragestellungen und sind insbesondere zuständig für Studierende mit Handicap oder chronischen Erkrankungen, Studierende mit Kind und für internationale Studierende.
4) An wen können sich Studierende mit persönlichen oder studienbedingten Problemen wenden?
Neben der Sozialberatung gibt es auch eine Psychotherapeutische Beratungsstelle, kurz PBS, im SWFR. Hierhin können sich Studierende mit seelischen Nöten (z.B. Ängste, Beziehungsprobleme, Konzentrationsstörungen, etc.) wenden. Unsere Psychotherapeut*innen bieten kostenfreie Einzelgespräche sowie ein umfangreiches Seminarprogramm an. Hierzu ist eine Anmeldung erforderlich. Einmal wöchentlich findet eine offene Sprechstunde ohne Voranmeldung statt.
5) Und bei finanziellen Schwierigkeiten?
Das Beratungsangebot im Studierendenwerk besteht aus der Sozialberatung, der PBS und der Studienfinanzierungsberatung. Die Sozialberatung gibt Auskünfte zu Sozialleistungen, in der Finanzierungsberatung liegt der Fokus eher auf der Beratung und Vermittlung von Studienkrediten, Darlehen, Nothilfen (wie z.B. dem Mensa-Freitisch, einem gratis Essen in den Mensen für bedürftige Studierende) und Stipendien.
Generally speaking, this is not possible because students who are enrolled in an educational program which is eligible for funding at its core - this includes all regular university programs – are not entitled to the benefits specified in the SGB II and SGB XII. Due to students’ basic eligibility to receive funding for their studies, it does not matter whether the student does in fact receive BAföG. Students who have exceeded their funding period limit and do not receive BAföG any longer or have never received BAföG due to other reasons, are still not entitled to benefits specified in SGB II and SGB XII.
However, in certain cases of particular hardship, benefits may be available to secure one’s livelihood (as stated in SGB II as a loan, or as stated in SGB XII as a non-repayable allowance or a loan). These cases include, for example:
If the studies are suspended because of the birth and the subsequent care of a child
If the studies have to be extended beyond the duration supported by BAföG due to illness, pregnancy or disability and if the successful completion of studies would be jeopardized due to a lack of funding
If a student with severe disability is at risk of not being able to secure his or her livelihood through employment in the long run if he or she had to drop out of education
If a destitute student is currently taking his or her final exams and therefore, it would be unconscionable to expect him or her to drop out of education.
ATTENTION: Students on leave of absence - and of course those who are no longer enrolled at the university - are not entitled to BAföG. If they are able to work, they can apply for unemployment benefits (Arbeitslosengeld II) for themselves and social benefits for children living with them, provided that no supplementary child allowance is paid for them. Please note, however, that there must be a valid reason for a leave of absence: Illness, pregnancy or care of family members. The relevant proof must be submitted to the Studierendensekretariat. You cannot take a leave of absence in order to apply for unemployment benefits/social benefits!
Students can only apply for housing assistance benefits, if they are not/no longer entitled to BAföG benefits. This can be the case if:
The maximum funding period has been exceeded and the requirements for further support or graduation support specified in the BAföG cannot be met
The graduation support timeframe has been exceeded
The age limit for educational grants has been exceeded.
Attention! If one applies for housing assistance benefits, one has to provide proof that one’s regular income is slightly higher than the amount calculated to secure the need-orientated basic livelihood according to SGB II (at least €446 plus monthly rent). Otherwise, the authorities assume that false information has been given or that the applicant is concealing income. However, naturally an applicant’s income or fortune cannot exceed certain limits either.
Further information on this topic can be found on the website wohngeld.org (this includes a housing assistance calculator).
Please note: The housing allowance is a social benefit. Foreign students with a stay according to §16b AufenthG may endanger your stay by applying for housing benefit! Please seek advice in advance or consult the aliens department.
In Freiburg one can apply for housing assistance benefits at the Office of Housing (Amt für Wohnungswesen) located at the Fahnenbergplatz. Students who do not reside in Freiburg should contact their relevant administrative district offices Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald (Freiburg, Stadtstraße 2 or Titisee-Neustadt, Goethestraße 7) or Emendingen (Emmendingen, Bahnhofstraße 2-4).
When applying for housing assistance benefits, one should submit the BAföG letter of refusal as well as proof of income and the completed application form.
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