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Counting a severely disabled part-timer under 18 hours a week (Germany)

Positions of fewer than 18 hours a week do not count as workplaces (§ 156(3) SGB IX), and a severely disabled part-time employee counts towards a mandatory workplace (Pflichtarbeitsplatz) only if they work at least 18 hours a week (§ 158(2) sentence 1 SGB IX). The exception is in sentence 3: if they work fewer than 18 hours, the Federal Employment Agency ALLOWS them to count towards one mandatory workplace where the part-time work is necessary because of the nature or severity of the disability. The law does not say “may” here: once the condition is met, admission follows. The employer applies for this “admission” (Zulassung) to its employment agency, with reasons and a medical certificate without diagnosis.

Up to date for 2021 — verified on September 23, 2026Official formGuide: about 20 min

This content is part of the path: Employing severely disabled people· Step 5 of 6· Next step: Reporting severely disabled employees and paying the compensatory levy in Germany

Deadlines

No statutory application deadline
§ 158(2) sentence 3 SGB IX sets neither a deadline nor a retroactive effect. The application belongs at the start of the under-18-hour arrangement, not at the end of the year.
Annual report by 31 March
§ 163(2) sentence 1 SGB IX — the report carries the data used to calculate and monitor the employment obligation and the levy; the admission takes effect through that count
Equivalent status for a degree of 30 or 40: from receipt of the person's application
§ 151(2) SGB IX — equivalent status is granted by the Agency on the disabled person's application and takes effect on the day the application is received; it may be time-limited

Documents to prepare

  • Employer's establishment number (Betriebsnummer), address and contact person
  • The employee's name, date of birth and degree of disability; for a degree of 30 or 40, the equivalent-status decision
  • Copy of the severely disabled ID card (Schwerbehindertenausweis)
  • Job, start of employment (MM.YYYY) and contractual weekly hours
  • Medical certificate without diagnosis stating that the short working time is necessary because of the disability
  • Where relevant, proof of a full or partial reduced-earning-capacity pension
  • Detailed reasons, on an extra sheet if needed
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A. Employer (applicant)

5 digits

6 to 20 characters: digits, spaces, + and .

8 digits

B. The severely disabled person or person with equivalent status

DD.MM.YYYY

1 to 3 digits

C. The workplace and reasons

MM.YYYY

Up to 2 decimals, separated by a comma

D. and E. Attachments and declaration

DD.MM.YYYY

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Who this applies to

  • Employers who employ a severely disabled person for fewer than 18 hours a week because part-time work is necessary owing to the nature or severity of the disability (§ 158(2) sentence 3 SGB IX)
  • Also for employees with equivalent status: the form expressly covers the “severely disabled person or person with equivalent status” and asks, for a degree of disability of 30 or 40, whether equivalent status has been granted (§ 2(3) SGB IX)
  • NOT needed from 18 hours a week: part-time work shorter than usual in the business but not below 18 hours counts towards a mandatory workplace without an application (§ 158(2) sentence 1 SGB IX)
  • NOT needed where hours fall below 18 because of partial retirement (Altersteilzeit) or part-time vocational training: sentence 1 then applies accordingly (§ 158(2) sentence 2 SGB IX)
  • NOT covered: part-time work under 18 hours for reasons other than the disability — the condition of sentence 3 is then missing
  • NOT more than one mandatory workplace through this application: the law speaks of counting “towards one of these mandatory workplaces”; for more, there is multiple counting under § 159 SGB IX

Worked example

Musterbetrieb Buchbinderei GmbH and Anna Kontrollwert's 15 hours

Musterbetrieb Buchbinderei GmbH has an annual average of 45 workplaces. Because that is fewer than 60, it must employ two severely disabled people per month on annual average (§ 154(1) sentence 3 SGB IX). One works full time and counts towards one mandatory workplace. Anna Kontrollwert, who has equivalent status with a degree of disability of 40, works 15 hours a week because a doctor certifies she cannot manage more. Without admission she does not count: her position is not even a workplace under § 156(3) SGB IX, and below 18 hours § 158(2) sentence 1 does not apply. One mandatory workplace would stay unfilled and the compensatory levy (Ausgleichsabgabe) would be due (§ 160(1) sentence 1). HR files the application with the employment agency, explains why the short working time is necessary and attaches a medical certificate without diagnosis, the equivalent-status decision and a copy of her ID card. The agency allows her to count towards one mandatory workplace (§ 158(2) sentence 3): two out of two, no unfilled workplace. The levy amounts this saves are on the page about the Schwerbehindertenanzeige.

How to fill it in, step by step

  1. Check the contractual weekly hours: from 18 hours the person counts without an application (§ 158(2) sentence 1 SGB IX).
  2. Check whether the drop below 18 hours is due to partial retirement or part-time vocational training — sentence 1 then applies accordingly, with no application (sentence 2).
  3. Establish whether the short working time is necessary because of the nature or severity of the disability, and get a medical certificate to that effect — without diagnosis.
  4. For a degree of disability of 30 or 40: check whether equivalent status has been granted; only the person can apply for it (§ 151(2) SGB IX).
  5. Complete the “Antrag auf Anrechnung auf einen Pflichtarbeitsplatz bei einer wöchentlichen Arbeitszeit von unter 18 Stunden” and give detailed reasons, on an extra sheet if needed.
  6. Attach: a copy of the severely disabled ID card, the medical certificate, where relevant proof of a full or partial reduced-earning-capacity pension, and any other evidence.
  7. Sign and file the application with your employment agency.
  8. Record the person in the register kept under § 163(1) SGB IX and reflect the admission decision in the annual report due by 31 March; if you also need multiple counting, attach it to that application.

Good to know

  • The Agency calls this special case of counting an “admission” (Zulassung).
  • The under-18-hour position is left out of the number of workplaces (§ 156(3) SGB IX); with admission, the person nevertheless counts on the side of filled mandatory workplaces.
  • Unlike multiple counting (§ 159(1): “kann … zulassen”, may allow), this admission is not discretionary: “lässt … zu, wenn” (allows … where) (§ 158(2) sentence 3 SGB IX).
  • A part-time employee within the meaning of § 158(2) SGB IX can additionally be counted multiple times (§ 159(1) sentence 2 SGB IX). The multiple-counting form asks, below 18 hours, for the admission decision under § 158(2) sentence 3.
  • The form expressly requires the medical certificate WITHOUT DIAGNOSIS.
  • A severely disabled person employed under a measure supporting the transition from a sheltered workshop to the general labour market also counts during that time (§ 158(3) SGB IX).

Common mistakes

  • Applying for 18 hours a week or more. The person already counts (§ 158(2) sentence 1 SGB IX).
  • Applying for partial retirement or part-time vocational training under 18 hours. Sentence 1 then applies accordingly (§ 158(2) sentence 2 SGB IX).
  • Giving business reasons for the short hours. What matters is whether the part-time work is necessary because of the nature or severity of the disability (§ 158(2) sentence 3 SGB IX).
  • Sending a diagnosis. The form asks for a medical certificate without diagnosis.
  • Counting the under-18-hour position in the number of workplaces. It is not a workplace (§ 156(3) SGB IX).
  • Expecting two or three mandatory workplaces from this application. It leads to counting towards one; more only through § 159 SGB IX.

Frequently asked questions

From how many weekly hours does a severely disabled part-timer count without applying?

From 18 hours: a person employed for less than the usual hours in the business, but not fewer than 18 hours a week, counts towards one mandatory workplace (§ 158(2) sentence 1 SGB IX).

Under what condition is counting below 18 hours allowed?

Where the part-time work is necessary because of the nature or severity of the disability (§ 158(2) sentence 3 SGB IX). The Agency “allows” it — once the condition is met, it is not a discretionary decision.

What evidence do I need?

The form lists a copy of the severely disabled ID card, a medical certificate without diagnosis, where relevant a copy of the proof of a full or partial reduced-earning-capacity pension, and other evidence.

Can a person under 18 hours also be counted multiple times?

Multiple counting also applies to severely disabled part-time employees within the meaning of § 158(2) SGB IX (§ 159(1) sentence 2 SGB IX). It needs its own application, with the admission decision attached.

What does admission change for the compensatory levy?

The levy is paid per unfilled mandatory workplace (§ 160(1) sentence 1 SGB IX); with admission, one more workplace is filled. The amounts are on the page about the Schwerbehindertenanzeige.

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