Voluntary Social Year

The Voluntary Social Year combines educational and vocational orientation elements. It is also an important form of social commitment and serves the common good as well as the participant’s own personal development.

The main objectives of the Voluntary Social Year are:

to build on previous school education,
to learn about the work at the placement location,
to develop personal skills,
to expand and apply knowledge in order to acquire skills for social professions,
to provide career guidance,
to strengthen social skills, and
to promote voluntary social engagement among participants.

Possible placement locations are not-for-profit institutions from the following areas:

social and disability assistance;
care for the elderly;
care for drug-dependent persons;
care for people affected by violence;
care for refugees and displaced persons;
care for the homeless;
childcare;
working with children, young people and senior citizens;
rescue services.

The Voluntary Social Year can only be performed at a placement location designated by a recognised institution. The participants must not have any relevant vocational education in the respective area of application.

Minimum age

As a general rule, it is possible to complete a Voluntary Social Year programme from the age of 17. In the case of special suitability, the Voluntary Social Year is also possible for people younger than 17. The existence of special suitability is determined on the basis of the application, an admission interview and a selection seminar.

Duration

The Voluntary Social Year may only be completed once. The duration is limited to a minimum of six and a maximum of twelve months.

Pocket money and climate ticket

The institution is responsible for paying pocket money on a monthly basis to the participants. This will amount to 75 to 100 percent of the marginal earnings threshold. In addition participants are entitled to reimbursement of travel costs from the federal government, which can be compensated in particular by the provision of the climate ticket.

Family allowance

Family allowances for children of full age are generally only granted if they are in vocational education or training. There are specific arrangements for the Voluntary Social Year, which allow family allowances to be granted until the person concerned reaches the age of 24.

Sickness, accident and pension insurance

Under the ASVG, participants in the Voluntary Social Year programme are insured under the sickness, accident and pension insurance schemes.

Counting towards civilian service

Participation for an uninterrupted ten-month period in a Voluntary Social Year programme can count towards a persons regular civilian service.

Advice

In principle, citizens from other EU Member States also have the opportunity to participate in a Voluntary Social Year. More detailed information about this can be obtained directly from the recognised institutions (BMASGPK)^{German text} – or from the expert advisors of the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMASGPK)^{German text}.