At a glance
Weekly plan
Document regular days and times.
Responsible payer
Clarify responsibility and approval for the individual case.
Changes
Report absences and changed times early.
Workshop rides as a recurring route
Rides to a German workshop for people with disabilities (Werkstatt für behinderte Menschen, WfbM) usually connect the passenger's home and the facility on a fixed weekly schedule. Planning requires attendance days, start and finish times, pickup points, mobility needs and contact details for changes.
Who may be responsible for the costs?
Responsibility depends on the individual participation and benefits case. Different rehabilitation or integration-assistance providers may be responsible. Attendance at a WfbM alone does not create a general commitment to cover transport costs. People entitled to the benefit, or their representatives, should clarify responsibility with the facility and the benefit provider.
Who pays in which phase?
That depends on the phase and the reason:
- Entry procedure and vocational training area: as a rule the Federal Employment Agency, in certain cases the pension insurance or the accident insurance.
- Work area of the workshop: as a rule integration assistance (Eingliederungshilfe). In Berlin, as a rule the participation service (Teilhabefachdienst) in the social welfare office of your home district decides.
- After a work accident or in the case of an occupational disease: the statutory accident insurance (employers' liability insurer).
- Children and young people with a mental disability: in some cases the youth welfare office.
These bodies decide in each case which payer pays. The details and legal bases are in our guide to integration assistance and rides; an overview of who pays for which ride is on Who pays for the ride?.
What to clarify before arranging rides
- Has transport been authorised, and which period does the approval cover?
- Who is authorised to commission the transport service?
- Which documents or billing process apply?
- Which changes must be reported to the payer?
For ride services, the decision notice (Bescheid) determines how billing works. PrimaFahrten cannot confirm direct billing or cost coverage without a specific agreement.
Regular workshop trips can only be checked on the basis of specific dates and mobility data.
Information for the transport service
In addition to the funding question, the transport service needs complete home and workshop addresses, times, wheelchair or walking-aid details, stairs, lift and any requested accompanying person. Use our workshop-rides service in Berlin to submit a request.
Changes in the weekly plan
Holidays, illness, changed attendance days and new pickup points should be reported early to both the transport organiser and responsible payer. A verbal request does not replace a required approval.
Frequently asked questions
Does integration assistance pay for the ride automatically?
No. Attending a WfbM alone does not create a general commitment to pay; the payer decides in each case.
Can PrimaFahrten bill the payer directly?
PrimaFahrten cannot confirm direct billing or cost coverage without a specific agreement.
What applies to holidays, illness or changed attendance days?
Report them early to both the transport service and the benefit provider. A verbal request does not replace a required approval.
Who pays for the school journey?
In Berlin, mostly the district school office, not integration assistance (details in our integration assistance guide).
By Tobias A. Kreuzig, co-founder of PrimaFahrten GmbH
Published: 27 July 2025 · Last substantive update: 26 October 2026
Example: For a workshop ride, the weekly plan, pickup location, workshop address, mobility needs and known changes are provided together.
Sources and further information
Land Berlin: Integration assistance (Eingliederungshilfe) · SGB IX · Section 63 SGB IX · Section 73 SGB IX · Section 43 SGB VII · Section 35a SGB VIII
