Women and men aged 27 and over can also do the Federal Volunteer Service part-time for more than 20 hours per week. They only take part in the seminars to an appropriate extent. As a rule, at least one day per month is considered appropriate.

Women and men can take part in the Federal Volunteer Service regardless of their school-leaving qualifications, provided they have completed their compulsory full-time schooling (depending on the federal state, at the age of 16, sometimes as early as 15). There is no upper age limit.

The application for recognition of employment centres and places in the Federal Volunteer Service must be submitted to the Federal Office. All recognised places of employment and workplaces of the civilian service are considered recognised places of employment and workplaces of the Federal Volunteer Service. They only have to be affiliated with one central office.

On the homepage of the Federal Office there is a job search (www.bundesfreiwilligendienst.de). However, interested parties can also contact volunteering centres or organisations themselves.

The assignment location is obliged to appoint a specialist for the professional guidance of the volunteers. This person provides support and counselling for the volunteers and imparts knowledge, skills and competences for the assignment and their training and career path. Regular discussions and integration into team consultations are also important for the participation of volunteers at the placement centre.

See under L for services.

During the Federal Volunteer Service, the assignment location pays unemployment insurance contributions. Anyone who completes twelve months of Federal Volunteer Service and does not find a job immediately afterwards is entitled to unemployment benefit if the other requirements are met. Active labour promotion benefits in accordance with the Third Book of the German Social Code can be paid if the relevant eligibility requirements are met.

Recipients of basic security benefits for jobseekers - known as unemployment benefit II - can also according to the responsible Federal Employment Agency participate in BFD or FSJ/FÖJ. If you receive unemployment benefit II, all income in cash or cash equivalents is taken into account.

Income includes pocket money and benefits in kind (accommodation and meals) or cash compensation paid in lieu of these benefits in kind.

The BFD (as well as the FSJ/FÖJ) generally excludes a pocket money allowance of 200 euros. If, in addition to the income from the voluntary service, further income is earned from gainful employment (e.g. mini-job), this increased allowance also applies. As usual, a further allowance is then granted on top of the gross income from gainful employment above 100 euros up to an income of 1,200 euros (up to 1,500 euros for benefit recipients with at least one child). If the necessary expenses associated with earning the pocket money and the income from gainful employment exceed the basic deduction of 200 euros in total, the higher amount is deducted.

Participation in a BFD (as with the FSJ/FÖJ) is to be regarded as an important personal reason that prevents you from working (see § 10 Para. 1 No. 5 SGB II). Recipients of unemployment benefit II are not obliged to take up work during the period of participation in these voluntary services.

The assignment location must pay unemployment insurance contributions for all volunteers who have not yet reached the relevant age for a standard old-age pension. In the case of volunteers who have already reached the age for a standard old-age pension, the assignment location must pay their "employer's share" (see also Social security contributions).

The Federal Volunteer Service is neutral to the labour market. The volunteers carry out supporting, additional activities and do not replace full-time employees.

Labour market neutrality is always given if the use of volunteers does not prevent the recruitment of new employees and no employees are made redundant.

Labour market neutrality is ensured before each individual placement is recognised and is constantly monitored on site by the Federal Office's inspectors.

Although the relationship between the volunteer and the assignment location is not an employment relationship, the voluntary service is largely treated in the same way as an employment relationship in terms of public law protection regulations. Accordingly, the relevant occupational health and safety regulations apply, such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Workplace Ordinance, the Youth Labour Protection Act and the Maternity Protection Act.

Foreign nationals can also take part in the Federal Volunteer Service. The prerequisite for this is that they have a residence permit that authorises them to work. As a rule, a residence title (a visa is also a residence title) may only be issued if the foreigner's livelihood is secured, Section 5 (1) No. 1 of the Residence Act. According to Section 2 (3) of the Residence Act, this is the case if a foreigner is able to support themselves without recourse to public funds (e.g. housing benefit). The subsidisation of the Federal Volunteer Service by the federal government is not an obstacle to the granting of a residence permit. In principle, volunteers from abroad can also be granted a residence permit specifically for participation in the Federal Volunteer Service in accordance with Section 18 of the Residence Act.

Third-country nationals who wish to perform Federal Voluntary Service must apply for a visa from their home country in order to carry out their voluntary service, as they can only be granted the residence permit required for their stay in Germany if they have entered the country with the appropriate visa. In addition to citizens of the European Union, citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand and the United States of America do not require a visa.

In principle, the Federal Volunteer Service can only be performed on the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Other volunteer service formats are available for domestic volunteers who would like to do voluntary service abroad. Detailed information on this can be found in the brochure "Time to do the right thing" (http://www.BMFSFJ.de/BMFSFJ/Service/themen-lotse,did=183816.html)

In exceptional cases, short-term stays abroad on official business by volunteers are permitted under the following conditions:

• Volunteers must be in agreement with their stay abroad. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
• Assignments abroad may not exceed a total duration of six weeks during the period of service. Individual foreign assignments may not last longer than three weeks.
• The activities of the volunteer during the assignment abroad must be within the scope of their other activities at the assignment location.
• The assignment location must provide the volunteers with insurance and liability cover to ensure that they do not incur any costs (e.g. taking out international health insurance, repatriation insurance).
• The assignment location undertakes - irrespective of the final assumption of costs - to pay in advance for all costs incurred during a stay abroad on official business.

The advisors in the Federal Volunteer Service work for the Federal Office in the field and are available as contact persons for all those involved.

To the overview of counsellors

The assignment location issues the volunteer with a certificate of participation at the end of the assignment, regardless of its duration (see also Z for certificate).

The pocket money paid in the Federal Volunteer Service is tax-free (Section 3 no. 5 letter f in conjunction with Section 32 para. 4 sentence 1 no. 2 letter d of the German Income Tax Act (Einkommensteuergesetz -EStG)). If, in addition to the pocket money, benefits in kind such as board and lodging or corresponding cash benefits are granted, these are subject to taxation. Taxation in individual cases can only be clarified by the relevant tax office.

If you would like to apply for the Federal Volunteer Service, you should contact a recognised assignment location or an organisation. They will provide information about the various areas of work and are responsible for the overall application process. When searching, the search for an assignment centre is limited to www.bundesfreiwilligendienst.de helpful.
For a job with the city of Eberswalde you will find here is the corresponding application form.

The application deadlines for participation in the Federal Volunteer Service are not the same for all volunteer placement centres or organisations. It is therefore advisable to contact the respective volunteer placement centres in good time.

The Federal Volunteer Service is usually carried out for twelve consecutive months, but for a minimum of six and a maximum of 18 months. As part of the overall educational concept, the placement centre can offer the voluntary service in blocks of at least three months. In exceptional cases, it can last up to 24 months. Several different voluntary service programmes lasting at least six months can be combined up to a maximum duration of 18 months. This means that the Federal Voluntary Service can be carried out at different places of assignment and in different fields of work.

Within the framework of a pocket money scheme, the assignment locations have the option of providing part of the pocket money not in cash but in kind, such as a BahnCard or a public transport ticket.

Discounts on road and rail transport also apply to the Federal Volunteer Service, as they do to the FSJ/FÖJ.

Volunteers may not incur any costs for travelling to seminars (see under S for seminars).

The Federal Volunteer Service is carried out as a predominantly practical auxiliary activity in institutions oriented towards the common good, in particular in institutions for child and youth welfare, including institutions for extracurricular youth education and youth work, in institutions for welfare, health and elderly care, care for the disabled, cultural and monument preservation, sport, integration, civil defence and disaster control and in institutions active in the field of environmental protection, including nature conservation and education for sustainability.

Within the framework of a pocket money scheme, the assignment locations have the option of providing part of the pocket money not in cash but in kind, such as a BahnCard or a public transport ticket.

Discounts on road and rail transport also apply to the Federal Volunteer Service, as they do to the FSJ/FÖJ.

Volunteers may not incur any costs for travelling to seminars (see under S for seminars).

The organisation where the volunteers perform their service is the assignment location. It is responsible, among other things, for the professional and personal support of the volunteers and all matters relating to the specific assignment. Assignment locations are, for example, hospitals, retirement homes, children's homes, day care centres and schools, youth facilities, recreation homes, multi-generational homes and self-help groups, sports clubs, museums and other cultural institutions, facilities for the disabled, environmental protection or civil protection and disaster control.

It depends on the working hours of the respective assignment location. In principle, the Federal Volunteer Service is a full-time service. For women and men over the age of 27, part-time service of more than 20 hours per week is also possible. For young people under the age of 18, the protective provisions of the Youth Employment Protection Act apply (e.g. no night work, longer holidays, special break regulations). The seminar time counts as working time.

Parental leave can only be taken by persons who are in an employment relationship.

Completing a Federal Volunteer Service does not constitute an employment relationship. It is therefore not possible for volunteers doing Federal Voluntary Service to take parental leave.

Within the framework of a pocket money scheme, the assignment locations have the option of providing part of the pocket money not in cash but in kind, such as a BahnCard or a public transport ticket.

Discounts on road and rail transport also apply to the Federal Volunteer Service, as they do to the FSJ/FÖJ.

Volunteers may not incur any costs for travelling to seminars (see under S for seminars).

See K for health insurance.

Volunteers can be released from work for a fee or free of charge in agreement with the assignment location. Release from work to complete an internship is generally free of charge.

Volunteers in the Federal Volunteer Service (as well as in the FSJ/FÖJ) are exempt from the fee for obtaining a certificate of good conduct if this is required to carry out the voluntary service. Proof of fulfilment of these requirements must be provided.

The legal basis for the Federal Volunteer Service is the Federal Volunteer Service Act.

Parents whose children have not yet reached the age of 25 and are doing voluntary service can receive child benefit or tax allowances for children.

Volunteers in the BFD whose children fall ill are entitled to child sickness benefit in accordance with § 45 SGB V and thus to time off work if the requirements are met.

Volunteers or assignment centres should clarify with the relevant health insurance fund whether they are entitled to child sickness benefit in individual cases. It is not possible for the Federal Office to provide advice on this.

The assignment location does not grant any benefits for the period of entitlement to child sickness benefit.

The assignment location must be informed immediately in the event of illness. The exact regulations are set out in the agreement between the Federal Office and the volunteer. In the event of illness, pocket money and benefits in kind will generally continue to be paid for a period of six weeks. After this period, volunteers generally receive sick pay from their statutory health insurance. This does not apply to old-age pensioners, who are generally not entitled to sickness benefit.

Volunteers are compulsorily insured as members of the statutory health insurance fund for the duration of their voluntary service. The contributions are paid in full by the assignment location and transferred to the health insurance fund. Any previously existing family insurance is excluded for the duration of the voluntary service and can be continued afterwards - for example, if the volunteer takes up vocational training, attends further school or studies. Compulsory insurance in the statutory health insurance scheme (GKV) also covers people who were privately insured before starting their Federal Voluntary Service. However, compulsory insurance in the statutory health insurance scheme does not apply to persons who are exempt from insurance. For example, civil servants, judges, temporary soldiers and pensioners who are entitled to sickness benefits in accordance with civil service regulations and principles (§ 6 Para. 1 No. 2 and 6 SGB V) are exempt from insurance. However, this exemption from insurance does not extend to family members eligible for the allowance, which is why, for example, children of civil servants are generally subject to compulsory insurance in the statutory health insurance scheme for the duration of their voluntary service. Persons after the age of 55 are also exempt from compulsory insurance if they have not had statutory insurance in the last five years and have been exempt from compulsory insurance, exempt from compulsory insurance or self-employed as their main occupation for at least half of this time (Section 6 (3a) SGB V). The receipt of an old-age pension does not result in exemption from health insurance. An old-age pensioner with statutory insurance who performs a BFD is therefore subject to compulsory insurance in accordance with § 5 Para. 1 No. 1 SGB V. Further information on compulsory insurance in the statutory health insurance scheme can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Health at http://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/index.php?id=3319 can be called up.

The volunteer and the assignment location commit to the contractually agreed duration of the service. The contract can be terminated for good cause, for example if a student or trainee position is obtained. The specific modalities are set out in the contract. Cancellations by volunteers must be made in writing via the assignment location, which then forwards the cancellation to the Federal Office.

The places of assignment can provide accommodation, meals, work clothing and an appropriate amount of pocket money (see T for pocket money). If accommodation, meals and work clothing are not provided, cash compensation may be paid. All benefits are agreed between the volunteer and the assignment location.

Minors can also take part in the Federal Volunteer Service once they have completed their compulsory full-time schooling. When deploying underage volunteers, the assignment location must observe the provisions of the Youth Labour Protection Act, e.g. on working hours and free time, employment bans and restrictions as well as regulations on health care.

The respective supervisory authorities (e.g. trade supervisory offices or district governments) are responsible for questions regarding compliance with the Youth Labour Protection Act.

The Maternity Protection Act applies to the Federal Volunteer Service. Among other things, the special regulations on the organisation of the workplace (= BFD placement), protection against dismissal, etc. apply. There is an entitlement to maternity protection benefits, such as the payment of a maternity allowance during the maternity protection periods and maternity protection pay in the event of employment prohibitions outside the maternity protection periods.

In principle, volunteers in the Federal Volunteer Service may pursue a secondary activity, provided that this is possible in compliance with the maximum working time limits of the Working Hours Act. the secondary activity must be reported to the assignment location or approved by it. The assignment location is responsible for deciding on secondary employment. Foreign volunteers who have received a residence permit in accordance with Section 18 of the Residence Act in conjunction with Section 14 (1) No. 1 of the Employment Ordinance may not engage in secondary employment.

Educational support includes professional guidance and seminar work (see S for seminars). The main aim of the educational support is to prepare the volunteers for their assignment and to help them exchange impressions and process their experiences. In addition, the educational support is intended to impart social and intercultural skills and strengthen the sense of responsibility for the common good and for a sustainable approach to nature and the environment.

In the Federal Volunteer Service, responsibility for organising the seminars required by law lies initially with the federal government as the contractual partner of the volunteers. The federal government has commissioned the central offices to conduct and organise seminars. The Federal Office for Family Affairs and Civil Society Functions offers to provide all or part of the educational support to volunteer placement centres that have joined or wish to join the Federal Office as a central office.

Volunteers are generally compulsorily insured under the social long-term care insurance scheme (Section 20 (1) sentence 2 no. 1 SGB XI).

Volunteers are generally subject to compulsory insurance and contributions to the statutory pension insurance scheme and thus acquire pension entitlements. This applies equally to "young" volunteers, to senior citizens who are not yet drawing an old-age pension, as well as to recipients of a partial old-age pension (old-age pension amounting to 1⁄3, 1⁄2 or 2⁄3 of the full pension) and pensioners with reduced earning capacity.

Volunteers who receive a full old-age pension - regardless of whether they have reached the statutory retirement age or not - are not obliged to pay the "employee's share". However, the assignment location must pay the "employer's share" (see also social security contributions).

Participation in seminars is required by law. A total of 25 seminar days are mandatory during a twelve-month period of federal voluntary service. If service is agreed or extended beyond the twelve-month period, the number of seminar days is increased by at least one day for each month of extension. Volunteers who are older than 27 years take part in the seminars to an appropriate extent. As a rule, at least one day per month is considered appropriate.

Participation in these seminars, including travelling to and from the seminar venue, is free of charge for the volunteers.

Volunteers are treated as employees or trainees under the Federal Volunteer Service Act, i.e. they are members of the statutory pension, accident, health, long-term care and unemployment insurance schemes during their period of voluntary service. The basis for calculating the contributions is the pocket money plus the value of the benefits in kind (accommodation, meals) or the compensation paid for this. All contributions, i.e. both the employer's and the employee's share, are paid by the assignment location. In the event of unexcused absences lasting longer than one month, the assignment location must deregister the volunteer after one month at the responsible collection centre for the total insurance contribution.

Monthly statistics on the Federal Volunteer Service can be found in the menu "Press - Statistics" can be called up.

Universities and colleges can recognise the period of service as an internship for applicants for the relevant degree programmes. Whether and to what extent recognition is possible depends on the individual provisions of the training or degree programmes and can be obtained from the respective university.

As a voluntary commitment, the Federal Volunteer Service is an unpaid service. The pocket money that volunteers receive for their service is currently (as of 2017) capped at €381 per month (6% of the contribution assessment ceiling for general pension insurance). The specific amount of pocket money is agreed with the respective assignment location.

In contrast to the FSJ/FÖJ, the Federal Volunteer Service does not stipulate by law that places of assignment must be affiliated with an organisation, which is why the Federal Volunteer Service Act does not define the term "organisation". A number of central organisations that also carry out an FSJ oblige places of assignment to join their regional sponsor structures in the Federal Volunteer Service as well.

The health insurance funds, as the collection centres for contributions to statutory social insurance, determine the obligation to pay contributions at the beginning of each calendar year, cf. section 3 para. 1 of the Act on the Equalisation of Employer Expenses for Continued Remuneration (AAG). The National Association of Health Insurance Funds regulates the details of the assessment procedure (§ 3 Para. 3 AAG). The Federal Volunteer Service placement centres take part in the U2 procedure, but not in the U1 procedure. Participation in the U1 procedure is ruled out as the volunteers are not employees under German law and therefore the Continued Remuneration Act does not apply to them.

In the Federal Volunteer Service, there is no exchange of services between the federal government and the assignment location that is subject to VAT. In particular, the assignment centre does not reimburse the federal government for the costs of providing the volunteers, meaning that there is no constitutive consideration for an exchange of services.

See under S for social security contributions.

See under L for services.

The provisions of the German Federal Leave Act apply accordingly to leave. For an adult volunteer, this means an entitlement to at least 24 working days of holiday leave for a twelve-month period of service (working days are all calendar days that are not Sundays or public holidays).

Young people under the age of 18 are entitled to longer holidays in accordance with the provisions of the Youth Employment Protection Act.

Details regarding the extent of the leave are to be agreed with the respective places of employment.

The Federal Office and the volunteer conclude a written agreement before the start of the voluntary service. The agreement form can be downloaded here. The specific content of the agreement must be agreed with the assignment location.

Preamble and agreement

See under L for services.

For the duration of the Federal Volunteer Service, you are generally entitled to an orphan's pension (half and full orphan's pension), provided that the requirements of § 48 SGB VI are met.

In principle, it is possible to apply for housing benefit. The payment of housing benefit depends, among other things, on the amount of rent and the available income. An application can be considered if it is necessary to move to the place of assignment in order to take up voluntary service without the assignment location being able to provide accommodation. The housing benefit authority of the municipal, city, local or district administration at the new place of residence is responsible. It must be clear from the application that the new home is the applicant's centre of life. Whether the requirements for entitlement to housing benefit are met should be clarified with the housing benefit authority in good time before the start of the Federal Volunteer Service.

The central offices ensure that the organisations and assignment locations belonging to them cooperate properly in the implementation of the Federal Volunteer Service. The central offices are the link between the Federal Office and the assignment centres and their sponsors. They are formed by the organisations and assignment locations. In order to be able to successfully fulfil this central task, minimum requirements regarding the number, size and geographical distribution of the assignment locations represented make sense. Details are set out in a corresponding ordinance issued by the BMFSFJ.

At the end of the voluntary service, the volunteer receives a written certificate from the assignment location about the nature and duration of the voluntary service. The certificate must cover performance and conduct during the period of service. The certificate must include the professional qualifications of the Federal Volunteer Service.

If you receive an old-age pension before reaching the standard retirement age, certain supplementary income limits must be observed. Anyone wishing to claim a full pension before reaching the standard retirement age may only earn additional income that does not exceed €450 per month. If the supplementary income limit is exceeded, this does not automatically lead to the pension being cancelled, but may result in the payment of a lower partial old-age pension, which allows a higher supplementary income.

Supplementary income includes all income from employment, regardless of the form in which it is earned. This means that the pocket money earned from the Federal Volunteer Service as well as free accommodation, meals and work clothing must be taken into account as supplementary income at the respective non-cash benefit value of the Social Security Remuneration Ordinance. Voluntary service can therefore lead to a reduction or even cancellation of the pension entitlement if the supplementary income limits are exceeded.

For pensions due to reduced earning capacity, even more differentiated regulations apply. Interested volunteers should therefore contact their pension insurance provider for clarification. According to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the pension insurance provider will always check whether a reduction in earning capacity still exists and thus whether a pension entitlement still exists when taking up employment.