The Referendariat in Lower Saxony (the paid practical training after university) raises an early question: how much money is actually available during training, and how to organise health insurance. Trainee pay depends on whether you train as a teacher or as a lawyer, and Beihilfe (state partial reimbursement of medical costs) follows its own rules. This guide sorts the verified figures and names the bodies that give binding answers.
Short answer: According to the dbb salary table (status 1 April 2026, subject to promulgation), trainee pay at pay grade A 13 in Lower Saxony is 1,722.66 euros gross per month. As a rule, civil servants on probation without children receive Beihilfe of 50 percent. This guide gives no verified amount for legal trainees. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points
- Trainee pay at pay grade A 13 is 1,722.66 euros gross per month according to the dbb table (status 1 April 2026).
- The figure is subject to publication in the official gazette, so verify it before you make financial commitments.
- As a rule, civil servants on probation without children receive Beihilfe of 50 percent. State law sets deviations.
- Whether a flat-rate Beihilfe is open to you depends on an election within the deadline set by the Beihilfe office.
- For legal trainees, this guide gives no amount. The competent higher regional court provides the binding information.
How much is the trainee pay in Lower Saxony?
Trainee pay is your monthly salary during the practical training and the most important figure for your planning. The dbb salary table for Lower Saxony lists 1,722.66 euros for pay grade A 13, status 1 April 2026. The table reproduces the state salary scale through a union source. The figure therefore depends on the gazette publication, and until then it is a reliable orientation rather than a binding amount for contracts or loans.
| Item | Value | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee pay, entry grade A 13 | 1,722.66 euros gross per month | 1 April 2026 | dbb salary table, subject to promulgation |
| Beihilfe rate (rule, probationary civil servants without children) | 50 percent | October 2026 | Lower Saxony Beihilfe ordinance |
| Subsistence allowance for legal trainees | no verified amount | October 2026 | Competent higher regional court |
Whether grade A 13 applies to your teaching qualification is shown in your appointment documents. The figure is gross. Income tax and social insurance contributions are deducted, and the amount depends on your tax class and family situation. For a personal estimate, the federal finance ministry offers a tax calculator. This guide does not calculate income tax itself.
Beihilfe during training in Lower Saxony
Beihilfe is a benefit from the employer that covers part of your medical costs. The rule of 50 percent serves as a guideline for probationary civil servants without children. The Beihilfe ordinance of the state sets the rates binding, so the Beihilfe office is the authority to ask.
According to specialist sources, Lower Saxony also offers a flat-rate Beihilfe (pauschale Beihilfe) that can be chosen instead of the individual rate. How the election works, which deadlines apply and whether it binds you must be clarified before you decide. Get the conditions in writing before you choose.
Health insurance during the Referendariat
Civil servants with entitlement to continued salary payment and Beihilfe are exempt from compulsory statutory insurance under § 6 para. 1 no. 2 SGB V. Whether this applies to you is checked when you are appointed. The part of the costs that Beihilfe does not cover is usually insured privately.
When choosing a tariff, look at what it pays on top of the Beihilfe rate. Pre-existing conditions must be stated fully in the application, and under § 19 para. 1 VVG material circumstances about which the insurer has asked in text form must be disclosed. The German guide on health insurance during the Referendariat (in German) explains the options in more detail.
If you come from studies or an exam phase, a gap in cover is a real risk. Plan the transition early, using the German guide on health insurance between exams and the Referendariat (in German).
Legal training in Lower Saxony
Legal trainees are handled differently. Depending on the entry conditions, they are civil servants on probation or in a training relationship under public law. The three higher regional courts in Lower Saxony, in Braunschweig, Celle and Oldenburg, are the competent bodies, depending on where you train. This guide gives no verified subsistence allowance for legal trainees. Ask the court responsible for your location.
In legal training the questions about Beihilfe and health insurance arise as well, and the rules for civil servants on probation only apply when the status requirements are met. Otherwise a training relationship under public law applies, which can have its own consequences for cover.
Financial planning with trainee pay
Trainee pay is the basis of your planning but not the full calculation. Rent, travel to seminars, study material and health insurance contributions are costs that recur over the whole training. Planning with the gross figure overstates the room you have. A realistic budget uses the amount that remains after deductions, and you can derive it with the federal finance ministry tax calculator.
Side jobs need a check as well. Whether and how far you may take on paid work during training is set by the state and your training body. Ask before you start, and ask in writing, so the income does not become a problem later.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the trainee pay of 1,722.66 euros valid?
The figure applies until the next adjustment of the salary scale. Adjustments follow state rules and appear in the salary table and the gazette. This guide reflects the status of April 2026.
Can I choose a flat-rate Beihilfe in Lower Saxony?
According to specialist sources, the option exists. The election is tied to deadlines and conditions, and the Beihilfe office decides on the details. Have the terms confirmed in writing before you commit.
Do I have to organise my health insurance myself?
Yes, if you are not exempt from statutory insurance or if your Beihilfe leaves a share you must cover. Clarify this before the training begins so that no gap appears. Your appointing body can tell you which status applies.
Does the Beihilfe also cover my family?
That depends on state rules and your family status. A general answer is not possible. The Beihilfe office checks entitlement case by case.
How to proceed now
- Check in your appointment documents which grade and status apply to you.
- Ask the Beihilfe office for the rate that applies to your status and whether a flat-rate option is open to you.
- Gather your pre-existing conditions before comparing tariffs, and answer the health questions completely.
- For a personal assessment, Academycon offers advice at https://academycon.de/so-arbeiten-wir/.
Related reading
- Civil Servant Health Aid During Training: Rates and Claims
- Health Insurance Between Your State Exam and Training
- Beihilfe in Lower Saxony: Rates, Your Share and Insurance
Sources: Salary table Lower Saxony, dbb (status April 2026, subject to promulgation) and § 6 SGB V (accessed October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
