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Broadcasting fee in the private sector Exemption

Service Description

If you receive state social benefits, you can be exempted from the broadcasting fee. The same applies to deaf-blind people and recipients of assistance for the blind.

Process flow

You must apply in writing to the competent authority for exemption from the broadcasting fee. Use the prescribed form for this.
You can obtain it

  • from cities,
  • municipalities,
  • from the responsible authorities and
  • on the Internet.

You can fill out the Internet form online. Print it out at the end of the submission process and sign it. Enclose the required evidence and send your documents by post to the relevant authority.

Who should I contact?

Responsibility lies with the ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice.

ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Contribution Service

50656 Cologne

Tel: +49 185 9995-0100 (6.5 cents/min. from a German landline, more expensive for mobile calls)

Fax: +49 185 9995-0105 (6.5 cents/min. from a German landline, more expensive for mobile phones)

Requirements

  • You receive state social benefits, such as:
    • Unemployment benefit II
    • social welfare
    • BAföG
    • basic income support
  • or you are deaf-blind
  • or receive assistance for the blind.

Please note:

You can apply for an exemption from the broadcasting fee as a special case of hardship if you do not receive any social benefits because your income exceeds the respective income threshold by less than EUR 17.50.
If you are exempt from the obligation to pay the contribution, the exemption also extends to your wife or husband within the home. The same applies to your registered partner.

Which documents are required?

  • on receipt of social benefits
    • Proof of receipt of one of the social benefits mentioned in the original (notice of approval or certificate from the social benefit provider)
  • in the case of deaf-blindness:
    • Current original medical certificate of deaf-blindness or
    • Severely disabled person's pass with the mark "Bl" and "Gl" or
    • Certificate from the pension office on the degree of hearing and visual impairment
  • if you receive assistance for the blind
    • Current notice of approval or certificate from the authority regarding receipt of benefits in accordance with § 72 of the Twelfth Book of the Social Code (SGB XII) or §27d of the Federal Pension Act (BVG)
  • in cases of hardship
    • the notice of rejection from the social benefits provider if the income limit is slightly exceeded as a case of particular hardship
  • Further evidence if required

If you send in the original approval notice, please mark it with the word "Original". Otherwise, you may not receive it back, as all incoming mail is destroyed after digital archiving.
You will not receive the certificate from the authority or the benefit provider back. You do not have to mark the original severely disabled person's pass. You will receive it back without being asked.

What are the fees?

Application procedure and examination: none

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

You must submit the application for exemption within two months after the approval notice has been issued.

You will receive the exemption from the first of the month stated in the notification of approval as the start of benefits.

Processing duration

Exemption is granted at the earliest at the beginning of the month following the application.

Legal basis

§ Section 4 (1) RBStV

Appeal

What else should I know?

The broadcasting fee replaced the license fee on January 1, 2013.

Author

SWR

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Technically approved by

SWR;
editorial revision by BW/GK LeiKa on 17.02.2014

Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)

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