Anyone who receives the study start grant (Studienstarthilfe) of 1,000 euros soon asks whether the payment counts as income for Bürgergeld (basic income support), housing benefit, child supplement or a scholarship, and thereby reduces other benefits. The answer sits in a separate provision: section 56b of the BAföG Act regulates the non-offsetting of the grant. This guide shows what it says, where the rule ends and which body decides in the open cases.
Short answer: Under section 56b BAföG the study start grant is not to be counted as income for income-dependent social benefits and for benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act. It is also not offset against performance- or talent-based scholarships from public funds. Section 56b contains no rule for other benefits. The grant is a one-off 1,000 euros. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points
- Section 56b(1) sentence 1 BAföG: the grant does not count as income for income-dependent social benefits and for benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.
- Section 56b(1) sentence 2: in child and youth welfare law (SGB VIII) it is neither income under section 93(1) sentence 1 nor an equivalent benefit under section 93(1) sentence 3.
- Section 56b(2): it is not offset against performance- or talent-based scholarships from public funds.
- On BAföG itself, child benefit, maintenance and taxes section 56b says nothing. The responsible bodies answer these questions.
- According to the FAQ of the Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern the grant and BAföG are independent of each other and must be applied for separately.
What does section 56b BAföG regulate on non-offsetting?
Section 56b is headed “Nichtanrechnung” (non-offsetting) and has two paragraphs. Paragraph 1 sentence 1 provides that the grant is not to be taken into account as income when income-dependent social benefits and benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act are granted. Sentence 2 clarifies that in child and youth welfare law it is neither income under section 93(1) sentence 1 SGB VIII nor an equivalent benefit under section 93(1) sentence 3 SGB VIII that has to be applied. Paragraph 2 exempts performance- or talent-based scholarships from public funds: the grant is not offset against them.
The provision names no single benefit but groups. Bürgergeld, housing benefit (Wohngeld) and child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) are income-dependent because their amount depends on income. Exactly these benefits also trigger entitlement to the grant under section 56(1). The provision thus prevents the grant from reducing the benefit that created the entitlement.
How does non-offsetting work for individual benefits?
| Benefit or area | What section 56b regulates | Open or to be clarified |
|---|---|---|
| Income-dependent social benefits, for example Bürgergeld, social assistance, housing benefit, child supplement | Not to be counted as income (paragraph 1 sentence 1) | The relevant office or job centre confirms how it records the grant and which proof it requires. |
| Benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act | Not to be counted as income (paragraph 1 sentence 1) | The responsible benefits authority, usually the municipal office. |
| Child and youth welfare under SGB VIII | Neither income nor equivalent benefit (paragraph 1 sentence 2) | Youth welfare office, if it asks questions on cost contributions. |
| Performance- or talent-based public scholarships | No offsetting (paragraph 2) | The scholarship provider, if funding does not come from public funds. |
| BAföG | No rule in section 56b. According to the FAQ of the Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern independent, separate application. | BAföG office, see our guide on the grant and BAföG. |
| Child benefit, maintenance, taxes | No rule in section 56b. The FAQ of the Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern calls the benefit tax-free. | Family benefits office, tax office or tax adviser in the individual case. |
The table also shows where the rule ends. If you receive the grant on top of a private scholarship or support from non-public funds, section 56b gives no explicit answer. A brief enquiry with the funder is worthwhile before you spend the money.
Example: Bürgergeld in the household and start of studies
Assumption: you are 20, start studying on 1 October 2026 and your household received Bürgergeld in September 2026. Receipt of benefits in the previous month, as section 56(1) requires, is therefore given. The application for the grant runs through BAföG Digital and must be submitted by 30 November 2026. If the grant is paid in December, it is not to be counted as income under section 56b(1) sentence 1 when your household’s Bürgergeld is calculated. Tell the job centre about the payment if it asks about income, so that it is recorded as a payment that is not offset.
The City of Heidelberg states in its procedure description (released 20 May 2026) that the household or family is named for the benefit receipt. The text of the law does not say so explicitly. Whose receipt counts is discussed in Which benefit receipt in the previous month counts.
What applies if you also receive BAföG?
Section 56b does not regulate the relationship to BAföG. The Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern writes in its FAQ that the grant and BAföG are independent of each other and that a BAföG application requires an additional application for the grant. The FAQ says nothing on whether the grant reduces BAföG. Whether and how the responsible office treats the grant in the BAföG calculation must therefore be clarified in each case. Our guide Study start grant and BAföG: can you get both? covers the overlap in detail.
What about child benefit, maintenance and taxes?
Section 56b makes no rule on child benefit and maintenance. For the family benefits office, the own income and receipts of adult children matter; how it treats the grant is for the family benefits office to say. On tax treatment the FAQ of the Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern describes the benefit as tax-free. For larger sums or in cases of doubt, do not rely on a general statement but ask the tax office or a tax adviser.
Frequently asked questions
Does the grant reduce my Bürgergeld or housing benefit?
Under section 56b(1) sentence 1 BAföG it is not to be counted as income for income-dependent social benefits. Bürgergeld and housing benefit belong to these benefits. If in doubt, a brief enquiry with the job centre or the housing benefit office helps.
Is the grant offset against a scholarship?
Not against performance- or talent-based scholarships from public funds (section 56b(2)). For scholarships from private funds the provision says nothing; the provider decides.
Do I have to repay the grant?
According to the City of Heidelberg’s procedure description the grant does not have to be repaid unless information was false or incomplete. More in Repaying the grant, also after dropping out.
Do I have to declare the grant in my tax return?
The FAQ of the Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern calls the benefit tax-free. For your personal tax situation this applies only as far as the tax office confirms it.
What to do now
- Note which benefits run in your household, such as Bürgergeld, housing benefit or child supplement, and who receives them.
- Submit the application for the grant on time through BAföG Digital.
- Report the grant to the bodies that grant ongoing benefits if they ask about income, and refer to section 56b BAföG.
- Clarify open points on BAföG, child benefit and taxes in writing with the responsible body.
- Keep notices and application documents.
Related guides
- Study Start Grant: 1,000 Euros for First-Year Students
- Study start grant and BAföG: can you get both?
- Which benefit receipt in the previous month counts
- Student Housing Benefit: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
- BAföG Reform 2027: What Is Changing and When
Sources: Section 56b BAföG (non-offsetting), gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed November 2026 (in German); Section 56 BAföG (study start grant), gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed November 2026 (in German); FAQ Studienstarthilfe, Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern, undated (in German); Applying for the study start grant, City of Heidelberg, released 20 May 2026 (in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
