The severely disabled person's ID card is a standardized national document proving that a person is severely disabled. It specifies the degree of disability (GdB) and any special marks. It also states the period of validity.
In order to obtain a severely disabled person's ID card, you must submit an application for determination of the degree of disability. You can submit the application to the pension office or the authority responsible according to state law.
You need a severely disabled person's ID card in order to take advantage of certain rights and assistance (disadvantage compensation), for example:

• Special protection against dismissal under labor law,
• entitlement to additional leave,
• concessions in income taxation,
• free transportation on public transport
• use of disabled parking spaces, parking concessions,
• exemption from broadcasting fees,
• reduced admission to events

The severely disabled person's ID card indicates the degree of disability and, if applicable, other health characteristics (characteristic signs). These characteristics are:

• aG - exceptional walking disability
• H - helpless in the sense of the income tax law
• Bl - blind
• Gl - deaf
• RF - Reduction of the broadcasting fee
• B - Entitlement to take along an accompanying person
• G - Considerable impairment of the ability to move in road traffic
• TBl - Deafblind

The basic color of the severely disabled person's card is green. If one of the signs "G", "aG", "H", "Bl" or "Gl" has been determined, the card has an orange area imprint. The card with the orange area imprint allows free transportation in passenger traffic.