BAföG and inheritance is a question many students only raise at the application stage, when the money is already in the bank. BAföG takes assets into account, and as a rule an inheritance counts as well. This guide explains what counts as assets (Vermögen), which allowances apply and how to declare your assets correctly in the application.
Short answer: What you have inherited and still own when you apply generally counts as assets under BAföG (§ 27 BAföG). Of these assets, 15,000 euros remain disregarded for trainees under 30 and 45,000 euros from age 30 (§ 29 para. 1 BAföG). The decisive date is the date of the application. Status: October 2026.
Key points
- Assets include movable and immovable property as well as claims and other rights (§ 27 para. 1 BAföG).
- A balance in your current account is a claim against your bank and therefore counts as an asset.
- Household goods as well as pensions and other recurring benefits do not count (§ 27 para. 2 BAföG).
- The allowance is 15,000 euros under 30 and 45,000 euros from 30. Spouses, partners and each child have 2,300 euros each (§ 29 para. 1 BAföG).
- The decisive point in time is the situation on the day of the application (§ 29 para. 1 sentence 2 BAföG).
What counts as an asset at all?
Under § 27 BAföG, assets comprise movable and immovable property as well as claims and other rights. Items that you cannot legally realise are excluded. Certain benefits also do not count, such as pensions and other recurring payments, as well as household goods. The table shows typical cases with an inheritance.
| Asset | Classification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Balance in a current account or savings book | Asset (claim) | Counts if it exists when you apply |
| Inherited car | Asset (movable property) | The value belongs in the application |
| Inherited property or land | Asset (immovable property) | Clarify the valuation with the office |
| Household goods, such as furniture or devices | Not an asset | Excluded under § 27 para. 2 BAföG |
| Pensions or recurring benefits | Not an asset | Excluded under § 27 para. 2 BAföG |
Status: October 2026. This classification applies to the concept of assets in BAföG, not to tax or inheritance law.
Which allowances remain disregarded?
Under § 29 para. 1 BAföG, part of your assets remains disregarded. The amount depends on your age and family situation. Assets above the allowances are counted, under the rules of the law and in the individual case by the office.
| Person | Allowance | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Trainees under 30 | 15,000 euros | § 29 para. 1 no. 1 BAföG |
| Trainees from 30 | 45,000 euros | § 29 para. 1 no. 1 BAföG |
| Spouse or registered partner | 2,300 euros | § 29 para. 1 no. 2 BAföG |
| Each child | 2,300 euros | § 29 para. 1 no. 3 BAföG |
Status: October 2026. The figures have applied since 1 August 2024. According to the current state of the draft BAföG reform, § 29 is not changed. An overview is also available on bafög.de (German).
Worked example: inheritance still in the account
Assumption: you are 26 and have inherited 30,000 euros. The full amount is still in your account when you apply. Then 15,000 euros lie above your allowance of 15,000 euros for trainees under 30. How much of that is counted toward the grant is calculated by the office under the BAföG rules in the individual case. We do not give a figure, because it depends on further details.
If the inheritance has been spent or converted into other assets, the position changes. Only what still exists at the time of the application counts, and the office checks this accordingly.
Are there exceptions for hardship cases?
Yes, but only in the individual case. Under § 29 para. 3 BAföG, an additional part of the assets can remain disregarded to avoid undue hardship. This is not a fixed sum and not a claim to a particular amount. If you rely on it, present the situation to the office clearly and attach suitable evidence.
An inheritance alone does not establish hardship. What matters is whether the overall situation is so unusual that the full counting would appear unreasonable. The office examines this, and the decision comes as a notice against which you may lodge an objection (Widerspruch).
How to declare your assets correctly
- Set the reference date: the date of the application counts (§ 29 para. 1 sentence 2 BAföG).
- Record all assets: accounts, securities accounts, vehicles, property and claims.
- Check the exceptions, such as household goods and pensions (§ 27 para. 2 BAföG).
- Keep evidence ready, for example account statements and documents about the inheritance.
- If you are uncertain, ask the responsible BAföG office before you send the application.
Frequently asked questions
What if the inheritance comes after the application?
For this application the date of the application counts (§ 29 para. 1 sentence 2 BAföG). How the office treats an inheritance that arrives during ongoing funding is best clarified with the office before you take any step.
Do my parents’ assets count as well?
The allowances in § 29 para. 1 BAföG name you, your spouse or registered partner and your children as the persons concerned. Assets are considered for these persons within the allowances. Your parents’ assets are not among these allowances.
How much of the assets above the allowance is counted?
The law regulates this in detail, and the counted share depends on the individual case. That is why the office calculates it. A binding figure comes only with the notice. The basics on how assets are counted are also explained on bafög.de (German).
Do I have to state an inheritance in the application?
Assets you own at the time of the application belong to the details the office needs for the calculation. Incomplete information can delay processing or lead to follow-up questions. Completeness is therefore the safest route.
Why precise details save time
The office calculates your assets from your statements and the evidence. A missing account, an unmentioned vehicle or an unclear value often leads to follow-up questions that delay processing. A complete overview as of the application date is therefore the quickest route to a clear notice.
Related guides
- Student Support Rate (BAföG) 2026: Amounts and Example
- BAföG Rates 2026/27: Figures, Allowances and Limits
- BAföG and Assets: 2026 Allowance and How It Is Counted
- BAföG-Antrag Schritt für Schritt
- BAföG zurückzahlen (in German)
Sources: § 27 BAföG, concept of assets (German law text) (status: October 2026); § 29 BAföG, allowances on assets (German law text) (status: October 2026); bafög.de, whether assets are counted (German) (page status July 2024; the allowances are confirmed by the Studierendenwerke FAQ of January 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
