Department of Health, Social Affairs and Integration

Apply for rapid assistance services in a trauma clinic

If you have suffered health damage as a result of certain events, you can be treated in a trauma clinic. The health damage can be the result of an act of violence. You can find out more here.

Detailed description

Trauma clinics offer rapid and early advice and psychological help, especially to victims of physical, psychological and sexual violence, to support them in coping with the consequences of the crime.

As a victim, as well as relatives, survivors, and close friends, you are entitled to a total of up to 15 sessions at the trauma clinic, provided the necessary conditions are met. For children and adolescents, the maximum entitlement is 18 sessions.

You can attend the first few sessions even without a decision from the authority, however you must submit the short application no later than after the second session.

Please note that your social compensation provider decides whether and to what extent you will receive support.

 

Information

Prerequisites

People who have become victims of an act of violence in Hamburg are initially given up to five hours of treatment at short notice at the city's expense in order to alleviate existing symptoms and prevent traumatic consequences.

Documents required

Together with the Asklepios Clinic Nord / Ochsenzoll and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), the Hamburg pension office offers immediate help for traumatized victims of violent acts.


All that is required is a short application, which those affected must submit to the Hamburg pension office. If necessary, the treatment can be extended by additional therapy hours.


The offer is aimed at victims of willful acts of violence, for example victims of serious bodily harm, assault, rape, sexual abuse or similar acts that lead to psychological trauma.


The victims can contact the following clinics directly and receive an initial appointment there at short notice. You can also do this with the help of the police (e.g. when logging the incident or filing a criminal complaint) or with the help of victim advice centers (e.g. White Ring).

Please note

No

Deadlines

There is no deadline.

Procedure

You can begin treatment at the trauma outpatient clinic and fill out the short application there with support.

You can also submit the application online, or you can contact the social welfare office for advice.

The first sessions can be attended immediately. The short application must be submitted no later than after the second session.

Processing time

Processing requires that all mandatory information has been provided. Processing time varies depending on the responsible authority and the individual case. A precise timeframe cannot be specified generally and depends on the complexity of the case.


If you submit the application for social compensation for treatment in a trauma clinic as a form of quick assistance, the processing time will be within two weeks, as stipulated by law.

Fees

People who have become victims of an act of violence in Hamburg are initially given up to five hours of treatment at short notice at the city's expense in order to alleviate existing symptoms and prevent traumatic consequences. The pension office approves and pays for these treatments regardless of which body is later responsible for approving and financing the therapy.

Legal remedies

Contradiction

Legal basis

Section 34 of the Social Code, Book Fourteen (SGB XIV)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_14/__36.html

Links on hamburg.de

Address and contact information

Department of Health, Social Affairs and Integration

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Last updated: 14.03.2026