Decision from the Sozialamt: calculate the objection deadline
The social welfare office decides on social assistance, basic income or asylum seekers' benefits.
How to recognise the letter
- The sender is the social welfare office of the city or district.
- It is about social assistance, basic income in old age or reduced earning capacity, or asylum seekers' benefits.
- At the end, the instructions on legal remedies: objection within one month.
Which deadline applies?
Objection (Widerspruch): one month after notification (§ 84 Abs. 1 S. 1 SGG). If the end falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, the deadline ends on the next working day (§ 64 Abs. 3 SGG). The calculator on this page works out the exact day – step by step.
Social assistance and asylum seekers' benefits belong to the social courts (§ 51 Abs. 1 Nr. 6a SGG).
What happens if you do nothing?
Once the objection period has passed, the decision becomes final; a cut or repayment then applies.
Your options
- Send missing documents
- Object (Widerspruch) – reasons can follow later
- Advice: Caritas, Diakonie, AWO, refugee advice
Who can help?
Social advice (Caritas, Diakonie, AWO), VdK, refugee advice
Frequently asked questions
Does this also apply to asylum seekers' benefits?
Yes. The social courts decide here too (§ 51 Abs. 1 Nr. 6a SGG); the objection deadline is one month.
How much time do I have?
One month after notification (§ 84 Abs. 1 S. 1 SGG). If the end falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, the deadline ends on the next working day (§ 64 Abs. 3 SGG). The calculator above shows the exact day with every step.
Who can help me?
Social advice (Caritas, Diakonie, AWO), VdK, refugee advice.
General information, not legal advice. Whether this decision is correct and what is right in your case is for an advice centre or a lawyer to say. Laws link to the official German text at gesetze-im-internet.de.