Social security for ghetto labor – New decision by the German Federal Social Court
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- Holocaust survivors together with students visit the site of a mass grave in "Mühldorfer Hart".
- (© Foundation "Remembrance, Responsability and Future", photo: Thomas Serwuschok)
Since 2002 people who worked in ghettos for the Nazi government during World War II can file a claim to receive social security. In a recent decision the German Federal Social Court in Kassel stated the group of eligible persons more precisely. Entitled to an application are: Jews who received money, coupons or naturals for remuneration, even in cases when the remuneration was paid to the ghetto Judenrat and the applicant was a minor at the time of the labor.
During the Third Reich the Nazis exploited labor in ghettos in Eastern Europe. Those persecuted Jews who did compulsory labor got paid a one-time compensation. Until now only ghetto laborers were entitled for social security as their work was "considered". Three former ghetto laborers brought their case to court in order to fight for a right to receive social security. The Federal Social Court now decided in their favour and ruled that an employment relationship existed even when it was forced. In differentiation to forced labor there must have been a general obligation to work i.e. the individual was not forced to a specific kind of work. This relationship also existed when a third party received payment. The recent ruling sets a precedent for about 70,000 people who were forced by the Nazis to work in ghettos, or their descendants, and entitles them to file a claim.
For more detailed information on development, applications and revisions (Überprüfungsantrag) for social security please contact "Die Deutsche Rentenversicherung (DRV) Hamburg".
Deutsche Rentenversicherung Nord
Friedrich-Ebert-Damm 24
22159 Hamburg
E-Mail: drv-nord%27%de,info
You may also call one of the following Customer Service hotlines for more information. Please choose your region:
| Northern Germany | Deutsche Rentenversicherung Nord in Hamburg | 01149-40-5300-0 |
Rhineland | Deutsche Rentenversicherung Rheinland in Düsseldorf | 01149-211-937-0 |
| Rhineland-Pallatia | Deutsche Rentenversicherung Rheinland-Pfalz in Speyer | 01149-6232-17-2459 (Ms. Schunk) |
| Southern Bavaria | Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bayern-Süd in Landshut | 01149-871-81-2154 (Mr. Güra) |
| Central Germany | Deutsche Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland in Erfurt | 01149-361-482-4000 |
| Knappschaft Bahn-See | Deutsche Rentenversicherung Knappschaft Bahn-See in Bochum | 01149-234-304-23001 (Mr. Moser) |
| Bundesrepublik | Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund in Berlin | 01149-30-2024-7780 (also in English, Polish, Russian) |
