Repair of therapeutic devices denied by the Jobcenter — how to fight back

Q: How much time do I have for the appeal?

One month from receipt of the decision. The appeal must be received in writing and signed — by letter, fax or drop-in at the Jobcenter. A simple email does not suffice. Without a timely appeal the denial becomes final and is practically no longer challengeable.

The battery of your hearing aid is dead, the tyre of your wheelchair is worn down, the brake of your rollator no longer grips — and the Jobcenter sends a cold denial: "Not responsible, contact the health insurance." The health insurance in turn pays only the standard model or refers you to the co-payment. Between these two stools sit thousands of Bürgergeld recipients — yet for precisely this gap there is a separate legal basis.

The essentials in 30 seconds

§ 24 Abs. 3 Satz 1 Nr. 3 SGB II secures Bürgergeld recipients an independent entitlement to repair and rental of therapeutic devices (Reparatur und Miete therapeutischer Geräte).
The initial acquisition is generally paid by the health insurance (§§ 27, 33 SGB V) — the repair, where economically unreasonable for you, is paid by the Jobcenter.
Typical cases: hearing aid battery, wheelchair tyres, rollator brake, seat cushion, spare parts for stair lifts, repair of special glasses.
The blanket denial "health insurance responsible" is unlawful when the insurance actually does not (fully) pay.
Against the denial you have one month for the appeal — after that the decision becomes final.

We review your decision within 24 hours. Free and non-binding.

Why does this happen?

Therapeutic devices are expensive, and the system is split: the statutory health insurance (GKV) finances aids under § 33 SGB V — but only as a benefit in kind at the fixed amount. Anyone who needs a higher-quality hearing aid, an individual headrest on the wheelchair or special glasses frames must bear the co-payment themselves. For repairs outside the warranty the same pattern applies: the insurance only pays for the repair on the standard model or in lump sum at the fixed amount.

For Bürgergeld recipients this co-payment is a problem. The standard requirement (Regelbedarf) (563 euros for single adults, as of 2025) simply does not cover a repair item of 200, 400 or 800 euros. This is precisely why the legislator created § 24 Abs. 3 Satz 1 Nr. 3 SGB II: repair and rental of therapeutic devices are a separate, additional benefit — independent of the standard requirement.

Example: Herr M. is 68 years old, receives Bürgergeld and depends on his hearing aid. The battery is broken after four years, the replacement at the hearing aid acoustician costs 180 euros. The health insurance refuses: outside the warranty, fixed amount exhausted. The Jobcenter also refuses: "Standard requirement or health insurance". Both denials are challengeable — the entitlement against the Jobcenter under § 24 Abs. 3 Satz 1 Nr. 3 SGB II is unambiguous.

Your rights in detail

1. Legal basis: § 24 Abs. 3 Satz 1 Nr. 3 SGB II. The law states verbatim "acquisition and repairs of orthopaedic shoes, repairs of therapeutic devices and equipment and the rental of therapeutic devices". These benefits are not covered by the standard requirement — so you do not have to save up for them and do not have to manage them from the monthly budget.

2. What are "therapeutic devices"? The term is interpreted broadly. Covered are all devices that are medically or therapeutically necessary and that secure participation in life. Typical:

Hearing aids (batteries, tubes, otoplastic renewal, casing repair)
Wheelchairs (tyres, drive wheels, cushions, belts, electronics repair)
Rollators (brakes, wheels, handles, seat surface)
Orthopaedic aids (shoes, insoles, prosthesis spare parts, bandages)
Stair lifts and care beds — spare parts and repair, insofar as not covered by long-term care insurance
Special glasses (magnifying glasses, edge filter glasses, prism glasses) — frame breakage, hinge repair
CPAP devices for sleep apnoea (masks, tubes, filters, if not covered by the insurance)

3. Distinction from the health insurance — who pays what? The rule of thumb:

Initial acquisition of an aid → health insurance under §§ 27, 33 SGB V (benefit in kind at the fixed amount)
Repair, spare parts, rental costs, insofar as the health insurance does not pay in full and the co-payment is not economically bearable → Jobcenter under § 24 Abs. 3 Satz 1 Nr. 3 SGB II
Consumables for chronic indication (e.g. nappies for incontinence, stoma bags, catheters) → health insurance as ongoing benefit in kind

4. "Economic unreasonableness" — what does that mean? You must not be able to pay the co-payment from the standard requirement. This is examined on the basis of your actual disposable income after deduction of all necessary expenses. For Bürgergeld recipients this unreasonableness is generally given — the Jobcenter must prove the opposite.

5. Repair instead of new acquisition — economic efficiency check. The Jobcenter may not deny the repair with the argument that you should instead apply for a new device. Conversely: if the repair is more expensive than a new acquisition (via the health insurance), the Jobcenter may refer you to the health insurance. The criterion is called economic efficiency and is to be examined by the Jobcenter — not to be proved by you.

6. Rental instead of purchase. Some therapeutic devices are so expensive that even with a health insurance subsidy the co-payment remains high. Then rental can be the economically better solution. § 24 Abs. 3 Satz 1 Nr. 3 SGB II expressly mentions the rental of therapeutic devices as a benefit.

Current case law

The Federal Social Court (BSG) has clarified in several decisions that the entitlement under § 24 Abs. 3 SGB II stands independently alongside the benefits of the health insurance. This means: a reference to the health insurance is only permissible when the insurance actually fully bears the costs — not already when it would be in principle responsible [URTEIL-REFERENZ].

Equally settled: the Jobcenter must examine whether the repair is economical. A repair that is cheaper than a new acquisition may not be denied with the argument that the person concerned should "simply apply for a new device" [URTEIL-REFERENZ].

Also important is the line that therapeutic devices are not included in the standard requirement. The blanket reference "repairs are covered by the standard rate" is simply wrong for therapeutic devices — § 24 Abs. 3 Satz 1 Nr. 3 SGB II would otherwise be superfluous [URTEIL-REFERENZ].

How to proceed now

Step 1 — Note the deadline. The denial decision contains a date. From receipt you have one month for the appeal. Mark the last day in bold in the calendar.

Step 2 — Collect evidence. You need three documents:

Cost estimate from the specialist dealer (hearing aid acoustician, medical supply store, optician) with a detailed breakdown
Denial or fixed-amount decision from the health insurance (or written information that the insurance is not paying further)
Medical prescription or confirmation that the device is medically necessary

Step 3 — Lodge the appeal. A simple three-liner is enough to preserve the deadline:

"I hereby lodge an appeal (Widerspruch) against the decision of [date], file number [number]. Reasoning will follow. I request file inspection (Akteneinsicht)."

This appeal must be in writing and bear your signature (letter, fax or drop into the Jobcenter mailbox).

Step 4 — Submit the reasoning. In the second step refute every argument of the denial:

If the Jobcenter writes "health insurance responsible": attach the denial decision of the insurance.
If the Jobcenter writes "standard requirement": cite § 24 Abs. 3 Satz 1 Nr. 3 SGB II.
If the Jobcenter writes "uneconomical": attach a comparative quote for the new acquisition.

Step 5 — Monitor deadlines. The Jobcenter must decide on your appeal "within a reasonable time". After three months without a decision, you can file an inactivity action (Untätigkeitsklage) at the social court (§ 88 SGG) free of charge.

Step 6 — Check emergency application. If you urgently depend on the device (hearing aid without communication, wheelchair without mobility), you can apply for interim legal protection (einstweiliger Rechtsschutz) at the social court (§ 86b SGG). The procedure takes a few weeks and is free of charge.

Common mistakes to avoid

Paying for the repair yourself. As soon as you pay in advance, the Jobcenter sticks to its position — subsequent reimbursement is legally difficult. Exception: acute emergency and demonstrable urgency.
Only enquiring at the health insurance. Many leave it at the insurance denial. The way to the Jobcenter is expressly provided — do not let it be taken from you.
Accepting verbal information at the counter. "We don't pay that" at the counter is not a decision. Always demand a written denial decision — only this is appealable with an appeal.
Forgetting the cost estimate. Without a written cost estimate, the Jobcenter has an excuse: "Amount not verifiable". Always have the hearing aid acoustician or medical supply store give you a detailed quote.

Frequently asked questions

My hearing aid is broken outside the warranty. The insurance only pays the fixed amount. Does the Jobcenter cover the rest?

Yes — that is the classic case under § 24 Abs. 3 Satz 1 Nr. 3 SGB II. If the health insurance only bears part of the repair and the co-payment is not economically bearable for you (regularly the case with Bürgergeld), the Jobcenter is responsible. You need the cost estimate from the hearing aid acoustician and the fixed-amount decision from the insurance.

The Jobcenter says repairs are covered by the standard requirement. Is that right?

No, not for therapeutic devices. For repairs of therapeutic devices, § 24 Abs. 3 Satz 1 Nr. 3 SGB II provides a separate legal basis — alongside the standard requirement. Case law has repeatedly clarified that this benefit is not absorbed into the standard rate. So the reference is wrong and should be named in the appeal.

I need a special wheelchair headrest that the insurance does not pay. Is the Jobcenter responsible?

In many cases, yes. If the headrest is medically necessary (medical prescription) and the health insurance expressly refuses, § 24 Abs. 3 Satz 1 Nr. 3 SGB II applies as a fallback rule. Important: have the insurance refuse in writing before you file the application with the Jobcenter.

Does the Jobcenter also pay the rental for a therapeutic device?

Yes — § 24 Abs. 3 Satz 1 Nr. 3 SGB II expressly mentions rental. This is relevant, for example, with care beds or special therapy devices for which an acquisition would be uneconomical. You need a rental contract and a medical justification.

Can I pay for the repair first and reclaim the money later?

Only exceptionally. The principle in social law is: first the application, then the benefit. Subsequent reimbursement is possible if you could not postpone the repair due to an acute emergency (e.g. complete inability to hear, acute mobility impairment). Document the urgency in writing without fail, ideally with a medical certificate.

How much time do I have for the appeal?

One month from receipt of the decision. The appeal must be received in writing and signed — by letter, fax or drop-in at the Jobcenter. A simple email does not suffice. Without a timely appeal the denial becomes final and is practically no longer challengeable.

Have your decision reviewed now

A denial concerning the repair of therapeutic devices is challengeable in very many cases — be it through false classification as a health insurance matter, through the impermissible reference to the standard requirement or through an overlooked economic efficiency check. Depending on the device, it involves 150 euros to significantly over 2,000 euros that you are entitled to.

We review your decision within 24 hours. Free and non-binding.