GEZ exemption for students 2026: Rundfunkbeitrag, income limit, application

Last updated: 8 November 2026

Students can be exempted from the broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag) (€18.36 per month) if they receive BAföG, Grundsicherungsgeld (known as Bürgergeld until 30 June 2026), training allowance or any other social benefit under Section 4(1) of the Rundfunkbeitragsstaatsvertrag (RBStV). If you do not receive social security benefits, an exemption is only possible via an application on grounds of hardship (Section 4(6) of the RBStV) – for example, if your income exceeds the BAföG requirement by less than the amount of the broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag). This article explains all the options, the current figures for 2026 and the most important special cases (studying without BAföG, shared flats, halls of residence, second degree).

How much is the broadcasting fee in 2026?

The broadcasting fee is €18.36 per month or €220.32 per year. The fee was last increased on 1 August 2021 and has remained unchanged since then. The fee funds ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio, regardless of whether or how much you use them. It is paid per flat – not per person. So if you live in a WG (shared flat), the whole flat pays just €18.36 in total.

Increase for 2025/2026 discussed but not implemented: In its 24th report, the KEF (Commission for the Assessment of Financial Needs) had recommended an increase to €18.94. The federal states were unable to reach an agreement, ARD and ZDF subsequently lodged a constitutional complaint in November 2024 – the Federal Constitutional Court held oral proceedings on 23 June 2026 (1 BvR 2524/24); a decision is still pending. The 25th KEF Report (February 2026) recommends a more moderate increase to €18.64 with effect from 1 January 2027. Until politicians take action, the fee will remain at €18.36.

Which students have to pay the broadcasting fee?

In principle, every adult resident with their own flat has to pay – and that includes students as soon as they move out of their parents’ home. Being a student is not a reason for exemption in itself. The decisive factors are your residential status and whether you receive certain social benefits (see the next section). Students who live rent-free with their parents pay nothing, provided their parents pay the broadcasting fee for the flat.

When can I be exempted from the broadcasting fee?

A full exemption (fee: €0) is possible under Section 4(1) of the RBStV if you receive one of the following social security benefits:

• BAföG – but only if you do not live with your parents (Section 4(1) no. 5 RBStV)
• Grundsicherungsgeld under SGB II (known as ‘Bürgergeld’ until 30 June 2026, and as ‘Unemployment Benefit II’ / ‘Hartz IV’ until 31 December 2022; designation since the reform in Section 19 of SGB II)
• Vocational training allowance (BAB) or training allowance under SGB III
• Social assistance (Sozialhilfe) or basic income support under SGB XII
• Benefits under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act
• Assistance for the blind under Section 72 of SGB XII or Section 27d of the Federal Compensation Act (BVG)
• Care allowance for those in need of constant care under the Federal Compensation Act

Existing exemptions granted before 1 January 2023 on the basis of ALG II / Hartz IV remain valid. If you are submitting a follow-up application, you must provide the current notification regarding Grundsicherungsgeld (formerly ‘Bürgergeld’) (notification from the Beitragsservice regarding the launch of Bürgergeld). Section 4(1) no. 3 RBStV still refers to ‘Sozialgeld or Arbeitslosengeld II’. The Beitragsservice lists ‘Grundsicherungsgeld (formerly Bürgergeld)’ under exemption code 403 c (Beitragsservice – recipients of social security benefits).

No grounds for exemption – not even as a student:

• Unemployment Benefit I (ALG I)
• Housing benefit
• Child benefit or maintenance payments from parents
• Transitional allowance
• Low income without social security benefits

If none of these benefits apply, the hardship route remains an option – see the next section.

GEZ exemption without BAföG: how to apply for hardship relief

If you do not receive BAföG, the hardship application (Härtefallantrag) under Section 4(6) of the RBStV is the most important alternative. It applies whenever your monthly income exceeds the state-defined need level by less than €18.36 (one month’s broadcasting fee) – and the authorities have therefore refused to grant you the relevant social benefit.

2026 income limit for BAföG applicants

The benchmark is your individually calculated BAföG need, not automatically the maximum rate. In the example below, we’ll use the maximum BAföG rate of €992 per month (not living with parents, with your own health insurance). Your individual income ceiling is calculated as your BAföG need plus €18.36:

If your income is below the threshold and the BAföG office has rejected your application on the grounds that your income exceeds the limit, you must submit the rejection notice together with the application for exemption to the Beitragsservice. With regard to the start date, Section 4(4) of the RBStV applies accordingly (see the section ‘Retroactive exemption for up to 3 years’); in cases of hardship, the exemption is granted for one year.

A specific example: Max is studying in Cologne; he has his own flat and his own health insurance. His BAföG requirement is €992. He has a part-time student job paying €1,005 net and therefore does not receive any BAföG (his entitlement is calculated as zero). His income exceeds his entitlement by €13 – which is less than the broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag) (€18.36). Result: The application on grounds of hardship is successful; Max is exempted from the broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag). He submits the BAföG rejection notice as proof (see BVerwG 6 C 10.18 and Studis Online on hardship cases).

Five more groups who can apply for hardship relief

In addition to income being close to the means test threshold, case law recognises that a hardship case may exist even without a BAföG rejection notice. The Federal Administrative Court (judgement of 30 October 2019, ref. 6 C 10.18) ruled on this in relation to a second degree programme that was not eligible for funding. Typical scenarios in which entitlement to BAföG is legally excluded:

1. A second degree programme following the completion of a first degree – BAföG is refused under Section 7(2) of the BAföG Act.
2. Change of subject without good cause – BAföG refused under Section 7(3) of the BAföG.
3. Exceeding the age limit (usually 45 years) – BAföG is refused under Section 10(3) of the BAföG.
4. Exceeding the maximum funding period without grounds for extension – BAföG is refused under Section 15a of the BAföG.
5. Failure to provide evidence of academic achievement in the fourth academic semester – BAföG refused under Section 48 of the BAföG.

In all these cases, there is no BAföG rejection notice because entitlement to BAföG is legally precluded. The decisive factor is then the actual situation: if the disposable income, after deduction of accommodation costs, is below the standard rate for social assistance and there are no realisable assets, a case of particular hardship under Section 4(6), first sentence, of the RBStV may apply. In the case in question, the student was living on maintenance from her parents and housing benefit (BVerwG 6 C 10.18).

Other ways to qualify for exemption without BAföG

If none of the hardship case categories apply, the following options remain:

• Apply for Grundsicherungsgeld at the Jobcentre: if approved, this serves as the basis for exemption under Section 4(1) no. 3 of the RBStV (you apply for the exemption itself via the Beitragsservice). If your application is rejected due to a minor excess of income: use the decision notice as proof of hardship.
• Shared household (Bedarfsgemeinschaft): If you live in a flat with a person who is already exempt (e.g. a recipient of Grundsicherungsgeld, a partner), the exemption applies to the entire flat – you pay nothing.
• Severely disabled person’s ID card with the RF mark: Reduction to one third (€6.12 per month); see the separate section below.
• Living with parents: Anyone whose primary residence is with their parents is covered by their parents’ contribution – you are not required to pay anything yourself.

Broadcasting fee by type of student accommodation

The broadcasting fee is charged per flat, not per person. Depending on the type of accommodation, the situation can look very different:

How do I apply for a GEZ exemption?

The application is handled centrally via the Beitragsservice of ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio. Step by step:

1. Find your contribution number: 9 digits long; it appears on every contribution notice and on your registration confirmation. If you haven’t registered yet, do so in advance – you can do this using the same online form.
2. Select the grounds for exemption: BAföG = No. 5 under Section 4(1) of the RBStV, Grundsicherungsgeld = No. 3, hardship case = tick Section 4(6) separately.
3. Enclose supporting documents: BAföG decision (a copy is sufficient; certification is no longer required), decision on Grundsicherungsgeld or, in the case of hardship, the BAföG rejection notice plus proof of income.
4. Submit online or print out: The online version goes directly to the contribution service. By post: ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice, 50656 Cologne.
5. Wait for confirmation: Processing time is typically 2–6 weeks. Continue to pay until a decision is made; otherwise, you risk receiving reminders – if your application is subsequently approved, any overpayment will be refunded.

Submit your application as early as possible: The exemption begins on the first day of the month in which the validity period of your proof begins, but no earlier than three years prior to the date of application (Section 4(4) RBStV). There is no three-month time limit; further details can be found in the section ‘Retroactive exemption for up to 3 years’.

Retroactive exemption for up to 3 years

Under Section 4(4) of the RBStV, the exemption begins on the first day of the month in which the validity period of your proof begins, but no earlier than three years prior to the date of application. It can therefore be granted retroactively for up to three years (as can the Beitragsservice). So if you have been receiving BAföG for one or two years and haven’t thought about the GEZ until now, you should apply for the exemption retroactively for the entire period. Prerequisite: You must have appropriate proof of entitlement for each month (BAföG decision, decision on Grundsicherungsgeld, etc.).

Duration of the exemption

The exemption generally applies until the end of the approved benefit period. BAföG is granted for 12 months, so you also have to reapply for the GEZ exemption every year and send in your new BAföG notice. If you receive a benefit indefinitely (e.g. permanent severe disability), the exemption is limited to three years.

What should you do if your application is rejected?

A rejection is not the end of the road. Within one month of the decision being notified (it is deemed to have been served four days after posting), you can lodge an appeal – in writing to the Beitragsservice or directly via the online portal (rundfunkbeitrag.de/widerspruch). The appeal should set out specific reasons why the eligibility criteria are met – referring to the decision (BAföG/Grundsicherungsgeld), the income threshold (hardship case) or the relevant Federal Administrative Court (BVerwG) judgement 6 C 10.18.

If the appeal is unsuccessful, you can bring a claim before the relevant administrative court within a further month. Students have been particularly successful in court in cases of hardship. For example, in a ruling dated 19 January 2022 (BVerfG 1 BvR 2513/18), the Federal Constitutional Court overturned the rejection of a hardship application: In the case of a student who was no longer receiving BAföG after exceeding the maximum funding period, the actual financial need should have been assessed.

Exemption ends – obligation to notify and follow-up application

The exemption is always linked to the approval period of the underlying social benefit. In the case of BAföG, this is usually 12 months – after which the exemption also ends automatically. To ensure there is no gap between two approval periods, the following applies:

• Send in the follow-up notice straight away: as soon as you receive your new BAföG notice, send it to the Beitragsservice – if you do so in time, the exemption carries on seamlessly (Beitragsservice – recipients of social benefits).
• Report it when your benefit stops: If your BAföG payments end early (e.g. you have dropped out of your studies or taken up a job that removes your entitlement), you are obliged to notify the Beitragsservice. Otherwise, you may face claims for repayment for the months during which you were wrongly exempt.
• Working whilst on BAföG: As long as the BAföG approval period is ongoing and has not been revoked, the exemption remains in force – even if you are working part-time and have earned slightly more at the end of the approval year than originally stated.

Special case: semester abroad – you still pay for your flat

An Erasmus placement or a semester abroad does not automatically exempt you from the broadcasting fee. You remain liable for the fee for your flat in Germany as long as you are registered there and the flat remains at your disposal. There are three options to avoid paying the fee twice whilst you are abroad:

1. Give up your flat completely: end your tenancy, deregister with the local registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt), and send the Beitragsservice a written cancellation. Prerequisite: you must no longer have a flat in Germany.
2. Sublet your flat: If someone else lives in your flat and registers there themselves, that person takes over the obligation to pay the broadcasting fee. You deregister with the Beitragsservice and provide the new resident’s Beitragsnummer.
3. Exemption through BAföG for study abroad: if you receive BAföG for study abroad, you can apply for the exemption as usual – your award notice for BAföG abroad counts as proof under Section 4(1) no. 5 RBStV.

Source: Verbraucherzentrale – Broadcasting fee for students.

Reduced rate of €6.12 for students with severe disabilities

Students with a severe disability may, under Section 4(2) of the RBStV, receive a reduction to one third of the fee – that is €6.12 per month. The prerequisite is a severely disabled person’s ID card (Schwerbehindertenausweis) with the ‘RF’ mark, which is issued to one of the following groups:

• Blind people or those with a severe visual impairment (degree of disability at least 60)
• People with hearing impairments who are unable to communicate adequately using standard hearing aids
• People with a disability rating of at least 80 per cent who, due to their disability, are permanently unable to attend public events

Anyone who is both blind and deaf (deafblind) is fully exempt. You’ll find details and forms in the Beitragsservice information section for people with disabilities.

Frequently asked questions about the GEZ exemption for students

Sources and further links

• Official application page: Beitragsservice – Apply for exemption or a reduction
• Full text of the legal basis: Section 4 RBStV (Bavaria, full text) · Section 4a RBStV (second home)
• PDF State Treaty: State Treaty on the Broadcasting Fee (Rundfunkbeitragsstaatsvertrag)
• Current fee: The broadcasting fee stays at €18.36
• KEF: Commission for the Assessment of Financial Needs
• Hardship case law: Federal Administrative Court 6 C 10.18 (30 October 2019) · Federal Constitutional Court 1 BvR 2513/18 (19 January 2022)
• Hardship in practice: Studis Online – GEZ exemption as a hardship case
• Bürgergeld transition: Beitragsservice on the launch of Bürgergeld
• What counts as a flat (WG/student halls): Verbraucherzentrale Hamburg · Studierendenwerk Berlin
• Semester abroad & practice: Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband
• Appeals procedure: Beitragsservice – Appeal