This internet presence has been launched because of the difficulties experience when accessing benefits from the state compulsory ‘accident-at-work’ insurance in Germany. (BG = Berufsgenossenschaft)

There are many things I know now that would have been extremely helpful over the last 26 months. I am learning the hard way.

Having experienced what I have, I would advise anyone who has a choice about in which country they work, not to work in Germany. Get a job somewhere else as soon as you can. Although Germany supposedly provides support for people who suffer from accidents at work, the practice is mostly very different from the laws, and even if you get some benefits, it is a very hard struggle.

As many people work in Germany whose first language is not German but have a good grasp of English perhaps the information provided here will save much anguish and allow people to access the benefits they should be getting fairly automatically from the BG.

The website is under construction and is being actively developed. So if this might be helpful for you, please bookmark it and come back later. The regulations / laws which control accidents at work and the related insurances / benefits etc. are part of the “Social Law Book” in Germany and are therefore comparatively accessible. The social courts are also free and therefore are persistently underfunded – cases can take many years. Whilst the German Ministry of Justice provides many English translations of laws, the "Social Law Book" is not one of them. Section VII relates to accidents at work (no responsibility is taken for the contents of this link).

For now, the ‘Golden rules’ are:

1. do not assume that you will back at work soon and therefore do not need to worry about all this

2. keep every written piece of information and emails etc. you are given or have access to in an accessible way (including doctors & physiotherapy appointments, all communications with your health insurance etc.)

3. Communicate with your BG only in written form (if you have little money then best is to use a fax which incurs no extra cost if you have a flat rate for landlines – BG claim that they do not pay any postage). I found it best to use a MFC type printer, with copier and fax.

4. be very organised and self-disciplined with your paper work (Welcome to Germany ;-) ).

5. Make appointments to get advice as soon as you can but do not let future appointments stop you from making appeals etc.. Many appointments made with, for example, unions take a long time and probably will not bring you anything anyway.

6. You only have a limited time to appeal against notifications (Bescheide) you get from the BG or Health insurance etc. If you are in any doubt about any decision you are informed about and have little time, put in an appeal and state that you will give the reasons at a later date (appeals can sometimes backfire, benefits can be worsened, but they can be withdrawn before they are final)

I hope to add in the near future:

• Examples / standard letters

• A forum

• Much more information

• …?

Sadly, the fact is if you have an accident at work and are in a low paid job you almost certainly have little or no access to consultancy or advice other than your family / friends / social network. You will not be much better off even if you are a union member or have legal insurance. You are for all purposes alone with this problem.
So basically you need to rely on yourself, be self-disciplined and remain level headed, and of course, get healthy again :-)

Pete