One-Off Benefits Under § 24 Abs. 3 SGB II: What You Are Entitled To In Addition To the Standard Need

Bürgergeld covers the ongoing cost of living. But for certain purchases the standard need of 563 € per month (as of 2025) is simply not enough: a fridge, a child's bed or orthopaedic shoes cost many times that. Exactly for these cases there are the one-off benefits (einmalige Leistungen) under § 24 Abs. 3 SGB II. On this overview page you will find the six most common points of dispute with the Jobcenter, each with a dedicated subpage and practical guidance.

What are one-off benefits?

One-off benefits are a separate cash benefit paid in addition to the standard need. They are not supposed to be saved up out of the standard rate: anyone with an entitlement gets them on top. The law in § 24 Abs. 3 SGB II lists three needs exhaustively for which this extra payment exists:

• Nr. 1: initial furnishing for the flat (Erstausstattung) including household appliances (furniture, fridge, cooker, washing machine)
• Nr. 2: initial clothing supply, including maternity clothing and baby equipment
• Nr. 3: purchase and repair of orthopaedic shoes, repairs of therapeutic devices and their rental

Any other purchase — TV, laptop, dental prosthesis, furniture that has worn out over the years — is not a one-off benefit within the meaning of the law. That is what the standard need is intended for, or other rules apply such as the loan under § 24 Abs. 1 SGB II.

The three categories at a glance

1. Initial furnishing of the flat + household appliances (§ 24 Abs. 3 Nr. 1 SGB II). Applies to the first move into an own flat or after special events such as separation, fire, release from prison or flight. Covers bed, mattress, wardrobe, table, chairs, fridge, cooker, washing machine and further indispensable household appliances.

2. Initial clothing supply + pregnancy and birth (§ 24 Abs. 3 Nr. 2 SGB II). Covers the initial supply of clothing in special life situations (for example after flight without luggage or in the case of a complete loss of clothing) as well as maternity clothing and baby equipment for pregnancy and birth. This includes a cot, changing table, pram, baby linen and care accessories.

3. Orthopaedic shoes + therapeutic devices + repairs (§ 24 Abs. 3 Nr. 3 SGB II). Only the medically prescribed share that the health insurer does not cover, in particular the personal contribution (Eigenanteil) for orthopaedic shoes as well as the repair or rental of therapeutic devices (prostheses, hearing aids, wheelchairs).

Why does the Jobcenter reject so often?

The rejection rate for one-off benefits is strikingly high. There is a pattern behind it, and the reasons are almost always the same:

• Flat rates set too low. Many Jobcenters work with internal municipal flat rates that have not been adjusted to price developments for years. 250 € for a complete kitchen is unrealistic — here an itemised list (Einzelaufstellung) almost always pays off.
• "No new need" alleged. The Jobcenter assumes you can keep using old furniture without actually checking this. The burden of proof lies with the authority, however, not with you.
• Wrong legal basis chosen. Some case workers try to grant initial furnishing as a loan (§ 24 Abs. 1 SGB II) that has to be repaid out of the standard need. For a new need under § 24 Abs. 3 SGB II this is unlawful; here you have a right to a grant, not a loan.
• Formal hurdles. Missing quotes, no medical prescription, rental contract not submitted: formalities are readily turned into grounds for rejection, even though under § 20 SGB X the Jobcenter is obliged to provide assistance in clarifying the facts (Aufklärungshilfe).
• Pointing to self-help. "You can get this second-hand" — this only partly holds and does not release the Jobcenter from its duty to provide indispensable items.

What can people affected do?

Two things are decisive: deadline and evidence.

The objection deadline (Widerspruchsfrist) is one month from receipt of the rejection notice (§ 84 SGG). After that, the notice becomes final — from then on only a review request (Überprüfungsantrag) under § 44 SGB X can help, and that is far from always successful. So rather file an objection too early than too late, if necessary informally and without reasons; you can submit the reasoning afterwards.

Collect concrete evidence: quotes from specialist shops, medical prescriptions, photos of the empty flat, separation certificates, birth certificates. The more concretely your need is documented, the harder it becomes for the Jobcenter to reject across the board.

Always apply for initial furnishing before you buy. Anyone who has already bought the furniture often does not get the costs reimbursed: the Jobcenter will then argue that the need was apparently already covered.

Flat rate, itemised list or voucher — who decides?

Under § 24 Abs. 3 Satz 5 SGB II the Jobcenter has a right to choose between three forms of benefit: flat rate, itemised list or voucher. This right, however, is not free — it must be exercised without discretionary errors.

The chosen form must actually cover the real need. If the flat rate is obviously below market prices for indispensable items, it is unlawful. Anyone who can back up with three concrete quotes that 250 € does not cover kitchen and bed has good chances of an itemised settlement.

The 6 most common disputes over one-off benefits

For each of the six main points of dispute we have prepared a dedicated page with legal bases, case law, sample wording and action steps. The reference page for the general systematics of flat initial furnishing is the first one; it explains the basic terms that the other pages rely on:

1. Initial furnishing of the flat rejected — furniture and household appliances (§ 24 Abs. 3 Nr. 1 SGB II)
2. Initial clothing supply rejected (§ 24 Abs. 3 Nr. 2 SGB II)
3. Initial furnishing too low — flat rate versus itemised list
4. Initial furnishing for pregnancy and birth — baby equipment
5. Orthopaedic shoes rejected — § 24 Abs. 3 Nr. 3 SGB II and therapeutic devices
6. Therapeutic devices and repairs (§ 24 Abs. 3 Nr. 3 SGB II)

Each of the six pages follows the same structure: the most important points in 30 seconds, background, your rights, current case law, concrete action steps, typical mistakes and an FAQ. Choose the page that best matches your rejection notice, or, if you are unsure, check several, because the disputes frequently overlap. If, for example, you applied for both flat furnishing and baby equipment, both pages are relevant.

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