What is the education and participation package?
The education and participation package helps children and young people from low-income families. For example, it pays for school lunches, school trips, or sports clubs.
It’s so easy to apply for the education and participation package.
Fill in the form
- Appropriate form: download depending on the state
- Fill out online or print as PDF and fill out by hand
- Submission to the job center, social welfare office, or housing allowance office
Submit evidence
- Proof: Proof of income & school certificate
- Decision: Citizen’s income, housing allowance, or child supplement
- Application: by post or in person at the office
Receive confirmation
- Assumption of costs: lunch, tutoring, school trips
- Payment: costs are covered after approval
- Approval: You will receive a written confirmation
Tip: Do you need further support?
Then visit the website: but-beratung.de
Support for families
The education and participation package (BuT) helps families on low incomes to secure their children’s education and social participation.
It covers or subsidizes costs for communal lunches in schools and daycare centers, school trips, learning support or leisure activities.
Families who receive citizen’s benefit, social assistance, housing benefit, child supplement or asylum seeker benefits are eligible.
Free or discounted meals
Healthy food for your child without a high personal contribution.
Simple application
Little bureaucracy, fast processing – you can obtain the application online from the relevant authorities.
Equal opportunities for all
Promoting education, leisure and social participation so that your child receives the best possible care.
Education and participation package quickly explained.
Who benefits and how to apply for benefits.
What you really want to know.
Here are the most frequently asked questions.
The BuT applies to families who receive one of the following benefits:
- Citizen’s income (formerly Hartz IV)
- Social assistance
- Housing benefit
- Child supplement
- Benefits for asylum seekers
- Free or discounted meals – no or only a small personal contribution.
- Healthy food for everyone – fresh and nutritious meals for your child.
- Simple processing – no complicated application, fast processing.
Yes, a new application is usually required for each school year. Please contact your local authority for more information.
After approval, the costs are covered directly. The processing time depends on your municipality.
You can obtain the form from your city or municipal administration or on your district’s website.
Responsibility varies depending on the federal state and municipality, but in principle it is:
- Jobcenter – if the family receives Hartz IV benefits
- Social welfare office / youth welfare office – if the family receives social welfare or asylum seeker benefits
- Housing benefit office / family benefits office – if the family receives housing benefit or child supplement
- City or district administration – there are often separate BuT offices
The education package (also known as Bildung und Teilhabe BuT) helps children, teenagers and young adults from families with little money. It enables participation in school and leisure activities, such as communal lunches in schools or daycare centers.
Many cities and municipalities also offer vouchers or discounts. Find out more locally or from the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. There you will find an overview of regional contact points.
Your account details are required in case the BuT approval period ends and further payments need to be arranged.
Account details are also required for kindergarten children, as breakfast and snacks usually have to be paid for by the parents. BuT only covers lunch. Please note that the regulations may vary depending on the federal state.
There can be various reasons for this:
- The approval period may have expired.
- The BuT notification may not have been submitted to us until after the monthly statement.
Unfortunately, retroactive consideration is not possible. In such cases, please contact your responsible BuT office directly to clarify the matter.
Not all questions have been answered?
If you have any further questions or need support, please send us an e-mail to