THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Every household in Germany pays the Rundfunkbeitrag, a compulsory monthly licence fee for public broadcasting. In 2026, the fee remains €18.36 per month. This fee serves to finance public broadcasting service based on a contributory model.
Who can be exempted?
For people with good incomes, €18.36 per month may not matter much. But those living on social security support, every euro counts. The good news is: you may be exempt from paying the licence fee.
An exemption is possible if you can prove that you have no income and/or receive benefits under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act or other forms of social security support. These include citizens’ income (Bürgergeld), social assistance, basic old-age income support, BAföG (student financial aid), or benefits for persons suffering from severe physical limitations.
However, the exemption is NOT automatic. You must apply yourself. And may even get money back if you have been paying the fee.
How to apply
Applications are handled by the ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice in Cologne.
Steps:
- Go to rundfunkbeitrag.de
- Fill in the exemption form (Befreiung aus sozialen Gründen)
- Print the form, sign it, and send it by post
- Attach a copy (not the original) of your Bürgergeld approval letter from the Jobcenter
Make sure the letter clearly shows:
- Your name
- Registration number (Beitragsnummer) if available
- Type of benefit
- Approval period
Very important: You can claim money back
Many people don’t know this:
If you have been receiving benefits such as Bürgergeld but still paid the Rundfunkbeitrag, you can apply for a refund for up to three years (retroactively).
That means:
- 1 year: €220.32
- 2 years: €440.64
- 3 years: €660.96
To get this refund, you must prove that you were entitled to Bürgergeld during those months. If you lost old Jobcenter letters, you can ask the Jobcenter to reissue them. The same regulation applies to the other recipients of social security support as listed above.
What about ALG I or Wohngeld?
People receiving unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld I), Wohngeld, or Übergangsgeld are not automatically exempt. But in special hardship cases, you may still apply. A social advice centre can help you.
Key message
- If you receive Bürgergeld or any other social security support mentioned above, apply for exemption
- Check if you can claim back money for past payments
This simple steps can save you hundreds of euros — money that can really help with daily life expenses in Germany!
© AfricanCourierMedia
