Short answer: During teacher training (Lehramtsreferendariat) in Berlin you receive trainee pay according to the Berlin pay tables, which are republished with each pay adjustment. For civil servant health aid (Beihilfe) you can choose between individual Beihilfe under the Berlin Beihilfe ordinance and flat-rate Beihilfe of 50 percent of the eligible health insurance premium. The flat-rate choice is irrevocable. Last updated: October 2026, information sheet of the State Office of Administration without issue date.
Teacher training (Lehramtsreferendariat) in Berlin is the practical preparatory service after your degree. You teach, receive supervision and prepare for the second state examination. Three questions come up for most trainees: what the state pays, how Beihilfe works and which cover fits. This text answers them and explains the difference between individual and flat-rate Beihilfe. For an overview of all federal states, see Trainee pay by federal state (in German).
The Most Important Points
- Trainee pay follows the Berlin pay tables. The amounts change with every pay adjustment.
- You can choose between individual Beihilfe and flat-rate Beihilfe.
- Flat-rate Beihilfe amounts to 50 percent of the eligible health insurance premium, minus contributions from third parties.
- The decision for flat-rate Beihilfe is irrevocable. The application must be submitted before appointment as a civil servant.
- The information sheet does not name trainees explicitly. Ask the State Office of Administration whether it applies to your training.
How High Is Trainee Pay in Berlin Teacher Training?
Trainee pay is based on a basic trainee amount that the Berlin pay tables set for each pay grade. For pay grade A 13 it is 1,807.47 euros and for A 12 it is 1,772.25 euros per month (status April 2026, according to the dbb pay table, subject to promulgation). The tables are published as annexes to the pay adjustment acts. A figure in a guide goes out of date quickly, so check the date of the table at each decision point. To find the current amount:
- Open the Berlin pay table for trainees, published on the Berlin state career portal.
- Assign yourself to the correct pay grade based on your training.
- Compare the amount with your latest pay notice and note the date of the table.
Individual or Flat-Rate Beihilfe: What Is the Difference?
Civil servants in Berlin have two routes. With individual Beihilfe, reimbursement follows the Berlin Beihilfe ordinance and its rate. With flat-rate Beihilfe, the state pays a fixed share of your health insurance premium. The table compares the two.
| Feature | Flat-rate Beihilfe | Individual Beihilfe |
|---|---|---|
| Calculation | 50 percent of the eligible health insurance premium | Rate under the Beihilfe ordinance applied to bills |
| Health insurance | Statutory voluntary membership or private full cover in the 100 percent tariff | Beihilfe-compatible tariffs possible |
| Choice | Irrevocable | No choice needed if you do not opt for the flat rate |
| Application | Before appointment, payment from the month after receipt | After bills arise |
| Tends to suit | Premiums are easy to prove and you rarely need treatment | You have regular treatment or plan a top-up |
The table summarises the rules and does not replace the legal text. The comparison shows that flat-rate Beihilfe is simple but binds you to the decision.
How Is Flat-Rate Beihilfe Calculated?
Flat-rate Beihilfe follows your health insurance premium. The premium is reduced by contributions from third parties before the rate is applied. For statutory insurance, the proven actual premium counts. For private full cover in the 100 percent tariff, the basic tariff counts, which corresponds to the statutory maximum premium, and it can differ from the actual premium.
Assumption: the health insurance premium is 300 euros per month and no third party contributes. Flat-rate Beihilfe would then be 150 euros per month. The example shows the logic, not your amount.
When Must I Apply?
The application for flat-rate Beihilfe must reach the authority before appointment as a civil servant. Payment starts on the first day of the month after receipt, and the date of receipt counts, not the date of signature. Retroactive payment is not possible. The information sheet recommends applying in the month before appointment, if necessary informally to secure the deadline. An application is possible even without a personnel number, which you can supply later.
- Apply in the month before your appointment, if necessary informally.
- Provide proof of your health insurance and the premium calculation of your fund for the period.
- With private full cover, add proof of the basic tariff premium.
- Report contributions from third parties, for example from the job centre or the pension insurer, so they can be deducted.
What Happens After the Clerkship?
If the probationary civil service relationship ends with an examination, the entitlement to flat-rate Beihilfe also ends. If it ends without an examination, the entitlement remains and the Beihilfe office must be informed. In the following civil service relationship on probation you have a new choice. The application for it must be filed before the probationary relationship ends, so that no payment gap appears. The transition is also described in Health insurance after training (in German).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I automatically receive Beihilfe as a trainee in Berlin?
The information sheet is addressed to civil servants on probation and does not name trainees explicitly. Ask the State Office of Administration whether and how it applies to your training.
Can I reverse the flat-rate choice later?
No. The decision for flat-rate Beihilfe is irrevocable and removes the entitlement to individual Beihilfe. Weigh it carefully before you apply.
Does flat-rate Beihilfe work with any health insurance?
No. You need either voluntary membership in a statutory fund or private full cover in the 100 percent tariff. According to the information sheet, Beihilfe-compatible tariffs with 30 or 50 percent lead to rejection.
What if I apply too late?
Retroactive payment is not possible. Payment can start at the earliest from the appointment date, and processing times can mean a later back payment. That is why the deadline matters.
Where do I find the current trainee pay?
In the Berlin pay tables on the state career portal. Check the date, because amounts are adjusted regularly.
What to Do Now
- Read the information sheet on flat-rate Beihilfe and check whether it applies to your training.
- Compare flat-rate and individual Beihilfe using your health insurance premium.
- Apply in time before your appointment if you choose the flat rate.
- Clarify open questions with the State Office of Administration before you decide.
Related Articles
- Trainee pay by federal state (in German)
- Beihilfe during training (in German)
- Health insurance during training (in German)
- Teacher training in Bavaria
- Beihilfe in Bavaria
Sources: dbb pay table Berlin, status April 2026, State Office of Administration Berlin, information sheet on flat-rate Beihilfe for civil servants (no issue date, based on the law of 17 March 2020), accessed October 2026, Berlin pay tables for trainees, Berlin state career portal, accessed October 2026.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
