As of the winter semester 2019/2020, the 26th Law amending the Federal Training Assistance Act will enter into force.

What does that change? We have compiled the most important changes for you here:

1. Increase in the BAföG requirements records

By autumn 2019 by 5% and once again by autumn 2020 by 2%.

	Currently		As of Winter semester 2019/2020		As of Winter semester 2020/2021
Basic needs:	399.00 €		419.00 €		427.00 €
Needs: Accomodation	staying with one's parents	residing outside	staying with one's parents	residing outside	staying with one's parents	residing outside
	52.00 €	250.00 €	55.00 €	325.00 €	56.00 €	325.00 €

The requirements records for BAföG will rise and especially the need for accommodation. The requirements records for those students who live outside the home of their parents will rise from 250.00 € up to 325.00 € monthly.

2. Increase in health and nursing insurance surcharges

In the future, the BAföG supplement for the health insurance will consider the average individual additional contribution of the health insurance, which the students have to pay since 2015 for the statutory health insurance. It will rise from 71.00 € up to 84.00 €, the nursing care insurance will increase from 15.00 € up to 25.00 €.

3. For students over 30 years of age: introduction of BAföG health and nursing insurance surcharges as of autumn 2019

Those students from age 30, who can’t be insured with the cheaper student contributions for the health insurance and need to pay more in the voluntary statutory health insurance, will get significantly more money. Also this amount will be considered from the average individual additional contribution of the health insurance up to 155.00 € with a verification, for the nursing care insurance up to 34.00 €. 

4. Increase in the BAföG asset allowances as of autumn 2020

Trainees themselves	from 7,500.00 € up to 8,200.00 €
Spouses/ life partners	from 2,100.00 € up to 2,300.00 €
per child	from 2,100.00 € up to 2,300.00 €

Students in education shall use their proper money reserves, without crediting to the amount of money of the BAföG support. The allowance of the proper capital of students in education will rise in autumn 2020 from 7,500.00 € up to 8,200.00 €. The additional allowances for students in education with support obligation for spouses, life partners and children will rise from 2,100.00 € up to 2,300.00 €.

5. Increase in the BAföG income allowances (of the parents)

The amounts will be increased in three phases: by 7% in autumn 2019, by 3% in autumn 2020 and by 6% in autumn 2021.

With the increase of the income allowances of the parents, more students will receive BAföG. These allowances determine the amount of money parents can earn, for their children to receive BAföG. These allowances depend on the family constellation and will rise in autumn 2019 by 7%, in autumn 2020 by another 3%, and once again by 6% in autumn 2021.

6. Increase in the childcare supplement

The supplement will in the first place be increased from 130.00 € to 140.00 € (autumn 2019), then to 150.00 € (autumn 2020).

7. Increase in the age limit for childcare

Instead of up to ten years of age child care is now to be considered up to 14 years of age as a reason for exceeding the BAföG age limits at the start of studies as well as a reason for study delays for a later submission of the BAföG certificate of achievement and for an extension of BAföG benefits if the standard period of study is exceeded.

8. Recognition of home care of relatives as a reason for study delays

Home care for close relatives (at least care level 3) is to be recognized as a reason for study delays and thus is to enable support even beyond the standard period of study.

9. Interest-bearing KfW loan becomes interest-free BAföG full loan as of winter semester 2019/2020

As of (new) approvals in the winter semester 2019/2020, the BAföG support type “interest-bearing BAföG bank loan” (KfW) will be replaced by “interest-free BAföG full loan” (state). This means: No more interest! This concerns, for example, exceptional cases of BAföG support beyond the standard period of study (e.g. help with graduation) and no conclusion of a loan agreement with KfW Förderbank.

10. Modification of the repayment terms for the loan portion

currently

in the future

Half of the individual BAföG grants are interest-free loans. However, only max. 10,000.00 € of this amount are to be repaid depending on income. Example: A student who has received the maximum rate of 735.00 € for a Bachelor's and Master's degree (5 years) has received support in the amount of 44,100.00 € - but only pays back 10,000.00 € - that is less than 1/4!

Half of the individual BAföG grants are interest-free loans. A maximum of 77 months at 130.00 €/month have to be repaid depending on the income, which makes a maximum repayment amount of 10,010.00 €. Example: A student who has received the maximum rate of 861.00 € for a Bachelor's and Master's degree (5 years) has received support in the amount of 51.660.00 € – but only pays back 10.010.00 € – that is less than 1/5!