Broadcasting contribution: Exemptions to record height - millions benefit!

Broadcasting contribution: Exemptions to record height - millions benefit!

The contribution service has published its annual report on the 2024 broadcasting contribution, which has increased to 2.4 million at the end of 2024. This represents an increase of 0.8 percent compared to the previous year, which has marked the first increase since 2018. The main reasons for the exemptions are basic security in old age and citizens' allowance, which for many households are financial relief.

About 62.5 percent of the exemptions, which corresponds to around 1,525,900 people, are due to the citizens' allowance. In addition, 689,961 people (28.3 percent) receive exemptions due to basic security in old age and in the event of disability. Other groups that can be registered include recipients of training funding according to BAföG, help for living and benefits according to the asylum seeker service Act.

social benefits and exemption options

According to information from broadfunkbeard.de, people who receive certain social benefits are freed from the obligation to broadcast. These include:

• Citizen benefit (formerly unemployment benefit II or social benefit)
• Help for living according to SGB XII
• basic security in old age and in the event of disability
• Services according to the Federal Education Promotion Act (BAföG)
• Services according to the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act and special nursing aids

The application for exemption takes place online, whereby the form has to be printed out and sent to the contribution service with the necessary evidence. Exemptions can be requested retrospectively for up to three years if the corresponding evidence is provided. It is important to note that the duration of the exemption depends on the validity period of the service notice.

Development of income

In 2024, the income from the broadcasting fee fell to 8.74 billion euros, which corresponds to a decline of 3.14 percent. This development is interpreted as a result of the end of the nationwide registration data comparison, which contributed significantly to the determination of the contributory households. Despite the increase in exemptions, the number of registered apartments with around 40.5 million remained almost constant.

There are additional discounts for severely disabled people, and the application for such discounts also requires active application. People with a mark RF in the severely handicapped ID receive a estate for a third of the broadcasting contribution.

All beneficiaries who are interested in exemption or discount are encouraged to use the information on the contribution service website in order to learn more details and to initiate the necessary steps. The materials and forms are also available in the newsroom of the radio contribution service to make access easier for citizens.