If you start a Voluntary Social Year (FSJ, Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr) or the Federal Voluntary Service (BFD, Bundesfreiwilligendienst) in Germany, one of the first questions is how much money you will actually have each month. The allowance in these services is an amount that depends on the type of service, the weekly hours and the written agreement you sign. For the Federal Voluntary Service there is an official upper limit. In the FSJ, the agreement with the sponsoring organisation sets the amount.
Short answer: For the Federal Voluntary Service, the official completion guide of the Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Affairs (BAFzA) sets the monthly allowance at no more than 676 euros (as of January 2026). For 2026 it lists board at 345 euros and accommodation at 285 euros as in-kind values. The agreement fixes the exact amount, and in the FSJ the sponsoring organisation decides the level.
Key points
- The Federal Voluntary Service has an upper limit of 676 euros per month for the allowance, valid from January 2026.
- The actual amount is written into the agreement and can be lower.
- If the service is comparable to part-time work, the allowance is reduced.
- Meals (345 euros) and accommodation (285 euros) are listed as in-kind values for 2026.
- In the FSJ the sponsoring organisation sets the amount. A nationwide upper limit like the one for the BFD is not confirmed here.
- The German pension insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) calculates contributions from the allowance and in-kind benefits, capped at the upper limit.
How high is the allowance in the Federal Voluntary Service?
The figures come from the completion guide for the volunteer agreement, published by the BAFzA with a status of January 2026 (in German). The document accompanies the form that the host organisation and the volunteer sign, and it states the values explicitly.
| Item | Amount | Valid for |
|---|---|---|
| Allowance, upper limit per month | 676 euros | from January 2026 |
| In-kind value for meals per month | 345 euros | year 2026 |
| In-kind value for accommodation per month | 285 euros | year 2026 |
| Mobility supplement | no amount stated, only if granted | see item 3.3 of the guide |
The upper limit is a ceiling, not an entitlement to the full sum. If you serve in a way that corresponds to part-time work, the same guide provides for a reduced allowance. The host organisation also pays the total social security contribution, covering both the employer and employee shares. The share itself is available from the responsible collection body of your health insurer.
How is the allowance calculated?
There is no fixed formula. What counts is the amount written into your agreement. For pension contributions, the German pension insurance treats the allowance paid and in-kind benefits such as accommodation or meals as one combined base. This combined sum is capped at 676 euros per month.
A worked example
Assumption: the agreement sets an allowance of 300 euros, and the host organisation provides meals with an in-kind value of 345 euros. The contribution base for pension insurance is then 645 euros, which lies below the cap. If accommodation worth 285 euros is added, the sum becomes 930 euros, and it is limited to 676 euros.
What applies in the Voluntary Social Year?
In the FSJ the sponsoring organisation pays an allowance, and the agreement determines its level. According to the figures cited here, the upper limit of the Federal Voluntary Service does not automatically apply. Before you accept a place, ask about the exact amount, meals, accommodation and travel costs. The question of child benefit and insurance in both services is covered in a separate guide: FSJ and Federal Voluntary Service: child benefit and insurance (in German).
Will the allowance rise?
A higher pay level is part of the public debate about voluntary services. According to the official figures cited here, only the upper limit with the status of January 2026 has been set. Whether and when the value changes will be published in the official documents. If you start in 2027, check the amount again at the start of your service.
What to check in your agreement
The agreement is the most important document of your service. It sets the amount, the in-kind benefits and the date from which payments start. The more of these points you clarify in advance, the fewer surprises you will face in the first month.
- The amount of the allowance and any reduction for fewer weekly hours
- Meals and accommodation, meaning whether they are provided or a cash equivalent is paid
- The mobility supplement, if it is granted
- Reimbursement for educational supervision, which is regulated in the annex on the settlement offices
Figures such as the upper limit change over time, so read the current version of the documents that the sponsoring organisation or host gives you.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get an allowance in a voluntary service at all?
Yes, both services provide an allowance. In the Federal Voluntary Service it is limited by the upper limit, while in the FSJ it follows the agreement with the sponsoring organisation. What is written down in the agreement is decisive.
Is there extra money for meals or accommodation?
Meals and accommodation are listed as in-kind values of 345 euros and 285 euros for 2026. Whether you receive them as a benefit in kind or as money is set in the agreement. A mobility supplement is paid only where it is granted, and the guide does not state its amount.
Is the allowance taxable?
Whether the allowance stays tax free depends on your individual case. The competent tax office gives a binding answer, and a tax adviser can help if you are unsure. This guide does not contain a tax calculation.
Does the service pay into pension insurance?
Yes. According to the German pension insurance, participants in the FSJ, the FÖJ and the Federal Voluntary Service are insured for pension, unemployment, health and long-term care, and the employer pays the contributions. The details are in the guide Voluntary service and pension: which contributions the sponsor pays.
How to proceed now
- Read the agreement before you sign it, and look for the line on the allowance.
- Compare the amount with the upper limit of 676 euros per month, status January 2026.
- Ask the FSJ sponsor about the amount, meals, accommodation and travel costs before you accept.
- Shortly before the start, check whether a newer version of the completion guide has been published.
Related reading
- Volunteering, voluntary service and engagement: the overview for students
- FSJ or Federal Voluntary Service: which service suits you
- Voluntary service and pension: which contributions the sponsor pays
- FSJ and Federal Voluntary Service: child benefit and insurance (in German)
Sources: Completion guide for the volunteer agreement, Federal Voluntary Service 2026 (in German) (BAFzA, January 2026), Voluntary service and voluntary military service: periods count for your pension (in German) (German pension insurance, 1 September 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
