Apply for medical rehabilitation at the expense of the pension insurance

You can receive medical rehabilitation from the pension insurance if your earning capacity is impaired by illness or disability.

Medical rehabilitation serves to improve or restore your ability to work.

A repeat of medical rehabilitation is generally possible after a period of 4 years - unless the service is required prematurely for health reasons.

Rehabilitation serves to treat health and functional disorders. The type of treatment and selection of the rehabilitation facility depend on your symptoms.

The rehabilitation takes place in a rehabilitation facility of the pension insurance or in one of its partner facilities. Medical rehabilitation services can be provided both on an inpatient and full-day outpatient basis and generally last 3 weeks. There are differing regulations regarding this form and duration of services for individuals with dependency disorders.

This is paid by the German pension insurance:

• the journey
• the accommodation
• catering
• medical care
• the therapeutic services
• the medical applications

During inpatient medical rehabilitation, you may be required to contribute a maximum of EUR 10.00 per day toward the costs. The copayment depends on the amount of your income.

If employers do not continue to pay wages due to recurrent illnesses of the same kind during your medical rehabilitation, you may receive transition allowance from the pension insurance.

You cannot receive a medical rehabilitation if you

• have a claim to a similar benefit from another rehabilitation provider (for example, from accident insurance) due to a work accident, an occupational disease, or injury caused by third parties,
• are a civil servant, female soldier, soldier, female judge or judge. Please contact your responsible integration office to find out from whom you can receive benefits,
• already be receiving or have applied for a retirement pension (at least two-thirds of the full pension),
• have permanently retired from the workforce and, until the start of their old-age pension, receive, for example, a company pension benefit or
• be in pre-trial detention or serving a custodial sentence.

You can submit your application online, in person, or in writing.

Online application:

• On the website of the German Pension Insurance (DRV) under "Online Services“ you will find detailed information about the procedure.
• If you follow the "Apply“ link, you will be guided through the next steps and can select the desired application.
• Alternatively, you can use the online services with registration. For example, you can immediately see which insurance periods have already been recorded. You also save time and do not have to re-enter data that is already known.
• Fill out the application completely and upload the required documents.
• Submit your application online.
• You will receive a transmission confirmation.
• The competent pension insurance provider is reviewing your application.
• You will receive a notification regarding your application.

Personal application:

• Gather the required documents for your application and schedule an appointment with the DRV.
• When booking an appointment online, your personal data and, if possible, your insurance number are required.
• You can select a preferred counseling center and your desired date. Depending on the availability of open slots, you will receive a proposal for a confirmed consultation appointment.
• During your personal consultation, your application will be recorded electronically and forwarded online to the competent pension insurance provider.
• The competent pension insurance provider is reviewing your application.
• You will receive a notification regarding your application.

Written request:

• Go to the DRV website.
• Download the desired application form.
• You can also pick up the form in person at the information and advisory offices.
• Fill out the application form, sign it, and attach the required documents.
• Send all documents
  • by mail to your pension insurance provider or
  • hand these in at one of the local advisory offices.
• The competent pension insurance provider is reviewing your application.
• You will receive a notification regarding your application.

A trusted person of your choice can also submit the application for you. To do this, please submit a power of attorney to the pension insurance provider. As long as the power of attorney is valid, the pension insurance provider will communicate exclusively with the person you have authorized.

If you give your consent to electronic communication, all correspondence can be conducted online. You can either use the electronic mailbox under the online services with registration or De-Mail.

There are no deadlines.

There are no costs.

• Objection
  Detailed information on how to file an appeal can be found in your notice. 
• Lawsuit
  Detailed information on how to file a lawsuit can be found in the rejection notice of the objection.