In this interview, Nerea Ulrich and Barbara Toth talk about their work at Studierendenwerk and the various support options for students with disabilities.

1) In which areas is the Studierendenwerk responsible?

The Studierendenwerk Freiburg-Schwarzwald, or SWFR for short, is responsible for providing social, cultural and financial support and advice to students in the university region of Freiburg, Lörrach, Offenburg, Gengenbach, Furtwangen, Kehl and Villingen-Schwenningen - and has been doing so for exactly 100 years now.

2) Who works in the Social Counseling Service of the Studierendenwerk?

The social counselors Barbara Toth and Nerea Ulrich share the position in the social counseling. They are the representatives for students with disabilities in the Studierendenwerk. The two social pedagogues offer free and confidential consultations for all students seeking advice in German and English.

3) For whom are the social workers of the SWFR contact persons?

The social workers Ms. Toth and Ms. Ulrich offer advice on all social topics and issues and are especially responsible for students with handicaps or chronic illnesses, students with children and for international students.

4) Who can students with personal or study-related problems turn to?

In addition to the Social Counseling Service, there is also a Psychotherapeutic Counseling Service, or PBS for short, at SWFR. Students with psychological problems (e.g. anxiety, relationship problems, concentration problems, etc.) can turn to this center. Our psychotherapists offer free individual consultations and a comprehensive seminar program. Registration is required for this. Once a week there is an open consultation hour without appointment.

5) And what about financial difficulties?

The counseling services offered by the Studierendenwerk consist of social counseling, PBS, and student financial counseling. The Social Counseling Service provides information on social benefits, while the Financial Counseling Service focuses more on advising and arranging student loans, credits, emergency aid (such as the Mensa-Freitisch, a free meal in the dining halls for students in need) and scholarships.

Generally speaking, this is not possible because students who are enrolled in an educational program which is eligible for funding at its core - this includes all regular university programs – are not entitled to the benefits specified in the SGB II and SGB XII. Due to students’ basic eligibility to receive funding for their studies, it does not matter whether the student does in fact receive BAföG. Students who have exceeded their funding period limit and do not receive BAföG any longer or have never received BAföG due to other reasons, are still not entitled to benefits specified in SGB II and SGB XII.

However, in certain cases of particular hardship, benefits may be available to secure one’s livelihood (as stated in SGB II as a loan, or as stated in SGB XII as a non-repayable allowance or a loan). These cases include, for example:

• If the studies are suspended because of the birth and the subsequent care of a child

• If the studies have to be extended beyond the duration supported by BAföG due to illness, pregnancy or disability and if the successful completion of studies would be jeopardized due to a lack of funding

• If a student with severe disability is at risk of not being able to secure his or her livelihood through employment in the long run if he or she had to drop out of education

• If a destitute student is currently taking his or her final exams and therefore, it would be unconscionable to expect him or her to drop out of education.

ATTENTION: Students on leave of absence - and of course those who are no longer enrolled at the university - are not entitled to BAföG. If they are able to work, they can apply for unemployment benefits (Arbeitslosengeld II) for themselves and social benefits for children living with them, provided that no supplementary child allowance is paid for them. Please note, however, that there must be a valid reason for a leave of absence: Illness, pregnancy or care of family members. The relevant proof must be submitted to the Studierendensekretariat. You cannot take a leave of absence in order to apply for unemployment benefits/social benefits!

The new housing benefit reform came into force on January 1, 2023, which means that more people are entitled to housing benefit. Housing benefit is a state subsidy for rent that does not have to be repaid. The prerequisite is that one can cover the costs of living oneself and that only a part for the rent is missing. When applying for a housing allowance, it is therefore necessary to prove that you have regular income of at least slightly more than the requirement for basic security according to SGB II (currently this is 502 euros plus costs for health/nursing care insurance plus a share of the monthly rent). Conversely, of course, you must not have too much of your own income or assets.

Students can apply for housing allowance if they are not entitled to Bafög. This is the case, for example, if

• the maximum period of support has been exceeded and the prerequisites for further support or graduation support according to BAföG are not met;
• the time frame for graduation support has been exceeded;
• the age limit for educational support has been exceeded.

Student parents with a common child are not themselves eligible for housing subsidies, since they are entitled to BAföG on the merits. Nevertheless, the entire family household is entitled to housing allowance, since the child is not studying and therefore cannot apply for BAföG.

Attention: housing allowance is a social benefit. Foreign students with a residence permit according to §16b AufenthG may endanger their residence by applying for housing allowance! Please seek advice in advance or consult with the Foreigners' Registration Office.

You can find more information on the topic with a "housing allowance calculator" on the website Wohngeldrechner des BMWSB.

Housing subsidies can be applied for in Freiburg at the Office for Housing at Fahnenbergplatz. An information portal with a housing allowance calculator can be found at www.freiburg.de/wohngeld.

Students who do not live in Freiburg should contact the relevant housing allowance office (Landratsamt for the district or Rathaus for the city).
When applying, the completed housing allowance application, a BAföG negative decision and proof of income must be submitted.

Further information on housing allowance for students can be found here.

With the SemesterTicket, students can travel for an entire semester for only €89 on the entire network of the Freiburg Regional Transport Authority (RVF). The SemesterTicket is valid for all city trains, buses and suburban trains (2nd class / no ICE and IC / EC trains) in the city of Freiburg and in the districts of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald and Emmendingen. Students can thus use it not only for journeys to university, but also during their free time.

It is available for students of the following universities:

• Albert-Ludwigs-Universität
• Evangelische Hochschule
• Hochschule Macromedia Freiburg
• Hochschule für Musik
• Internationale Studien- und Berufsakademie ISBA
• Katholische Hochschule
• Pädagogische Hochschule

The SemesterTicket is available at the VAG pluspunkt in Salzstraße 3 at the Bertoldsbrunnen or at the bike station at the main train station, at DB sales points and vending machines as well as at the SBG customer centers. The student ID serves as proof. 

Alternatively, students from other universities can use the RegioKarte Schüler or the SchülerAbo in the RVF. 

You can find more information about the SemesterTicket here.