The health and social system in Germany: social insurance, care grades (Pflegegrade), Social Code Book IX (SGB IX), basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld) and duties to advise – as of October 2026.
Online self-study course for professionals in social work, nursing and counselling, managers in social and health-related organisations, and students of social and health-related subjects; no prior knowledge required – 8 modules, approx. 8 hours, at your own pace, with a confirmation of participation after working through all modules. References in APA 7 style, as of October 2026.
The modules:
- The welfare state and the solidarity principle – basic concepts of social security
- The five branches of social insurance – risks, contributions and the logic of benefits
- Benefit providers and responsibilities – finding your way through the multi-branch system
- Statutory health insurance – benefits, contributions and reforms
- Long-term care insurance and care grades – assessment of care needs, benefits, limits
- Rehabilitation and participation – SGB IX and the Federal Participation Act (Bundesteilhabegesetz)
- Securing a livelihood – basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld) and social assistance (SGB II/XII)
- Access, duties to advise and the navigator role – synthesis and transfer
Self-study without supervision, assignments or assessment of learning progress by instructors; the voluntary self-reflection is for your own orientation only. Your confirmation of participation becomes available once you have marked all modules as done yourself.