Special social difficulties arise from the combination of special living conditions with social difficulties that cannot be overcome independently by those affected.

Special living conditions can be (according to § 1 Para. 2 of the regulation pursuant to § 69 SGB XII)

• an unsecured economic livelihood,
• non-existent housing or inadequate living conditions,
• living conditions characterized by violence,
• release from a closed institution,
• comparable disadvantageous living conditions.

The aim of the assistance is to enable affected persons to cope independently with everyday life according to their abilities and to facilitate their integration into society.

People who have found themselves in such difficult living conditions associated with particular social difficulties that they are unable to overcome them on their own are entitled to this assistance. The particularly difficult living conditions or social difficulties must be clearly distinguished from general life crises such as unemployment, illness, marital breakdowns and the like by their particular degree of severity.

The benefits of assistance to overcome particular social difficulties are subordinate to the benefits of other social benefit providers/rehabilitation providers and other provisions of SGB XII (social assistance), insofar as these cover the need in full.

In the case of assistance to overcome particular social difficulties, income and assets are not taken into account, contrary to the principle of the subordination of social assistance, insofar as services are required in individual cases.

The assistance includes all necessary measures to eliminate the particular difficulties that prevent integration into society. This includes above all

• Advice and personal support for those seeking help and for their relatives,
• Help with finding accommodation,
• measures to obtain a job and
• help with coping with everyday life.

The above services are provided in particular through outpatient assistance services, such as

• day stays,
• outpatient assistance
• transitional housing and - if these outpatient measures are not sufficient - inpatient residential facilities.