Prisoner Assistance Act
| Basic data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Law on relief measures for people who were taken into custody outside the Federal Republic of Germany for political reasons |
| Short title: | Prisoner Assistance Act |
| Abbreviation: | HHG |
| Type: | Federal law |
| Scope: | Federal Republic of Germany |
| Legal matter: | Social law |
| References : | 242-1 |
| Original version from: | August 6, 1955 ( Federal Law Gazette I p. 498 ) |
| Entry into force on: | August 10, 1955 |
| Last revision from: | June 2, 1993 ( BGBl. I p. 838 ) |
| Entry into force of the new version on: |
January 1, 1993 |
| Last change by: |
Art. 9 G of December 12, 2019 ( Federal Law Gazette I p. 2652, 2693 ) |
| Effective date of the last change: |
January 1, 2024 (Art. 60 G of December 12, 2019) |
| GESTA : | G026 |
| Weblink: | Text of the law |
| Please note the note on the applicable legal version. | |
The law on relief measures for people who were taken into custody for political reasons outside the Federal Republic of Germany (Prisoner Assistance Act - HHG) regulates financial compensation payments for persons of German nationality who, after the Second World War, were in the Soviet occupation zone (SBZ) or in the Soviet sector of Berlin or were taken into custody in the states of the Eastern Bloc for political reasons, as well as their relatives and dependents.
If such a person is harmed while in custody, they will receive care in analogous application of the provisions of the Federal Pension Act . Survivors also receive benefits if the detention leads to the death of the detainee.
Until June 30, 2016, the Foundation for former political prisoners also paid an annual support amount to everyone detained outside the GDR / SBZ, provided that there was a social emergency (need) (Section 18 HHG). Under certain conditions, survivors of this group of people could also be supported. The benefits have since been discontinued on the aforementioned date (last possible application), mainly due to the old age of the target group, and replaced by a final one-off payment.
People who have been taken into custody in the area of the former GDR / SBZ will continue to receive annual benefits from the foundation (with proven economic need) in accordance with Section 18 of the Criminal Rehabilitation Act (StrRehaG), provided that their imprisonment has been less than 180 days. Under certain conditions, benefits for surviving dependents (parents, spouses, children) are also possible here.
For long-term detainees, a monthly pension (special allowance) of up to € 300 is possible in accordance with Section 17a StrRehaG (so-called victim pension ).