Tens of Thousands of German Students Exempt from Licence Fee
Starting this winter semester, tens of thousands of German students receiving BAföG financial aid and not living with their parents will be exempt from paying the licence fee for public broadcasting. This change, effective June 2023, joins other exemptions for certain social groups and individuals.
The licence fee, known as the Rundfunkbeitrag, is €18.36 per month and is applied per household, not per person. This means that shared living arrangements can potentially help avoid the fee. Other exempt groups include asylum seekers, recipients of long-term unemployment or disability benefits, and those with vision or hearing impairments. Students living in shared apartments occupied solely by BAföG recipients are also exempt, but an application is required.
The Beitragsservice now sends an annual payment plan letter instead of quarterly reminders. Those without direct debit set up must make manual bank transfers. Residents must apply for exemptions or reduced fees, and will still receive a letter from the Rundfunkbeitrag requiring action. Additionally, recipients of Bürgergeld, ALG II, and those qualifying for certain social security benefits but waiving them may apply for hardship exemption if their income slightly exceeds the threshold or they refuse benefits in writing. Students who have exceeded BAföG funding duration or are in a second degree may also qualify for exemptions based on individual circumstances.
The licence fee exemption for BAföG recipients not living with their parents is set to benefit tens of thousands of students in the coming winter semester. This change, along with other exemptions and adjustments to the payment process, aims to make the licence fee fairer and more accessible.
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