It should enable individuals entitled to the card to participate in cultural, sporting and social life in the city despite their financial constraints. In addition, the Bonus Card + Culture also enables you to obtain discounted monthly tickets for public transport.
Who is eligible for the Bonus Card + Culture?
People eligible to receive the Bonus Card + Culture are exclusively people with Stuttgart registered as their main place of residence and people who receive
- Benefits in accordance with the Social Code II (SGB II)
- Basic insurance, assistance towards living expenses and benefits in inpatient nursing care facilities centres in accordance with the Social Code XII (SGB XII)
- Benefits in accordance with the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act (AsylbLG)
- Housing benefit in accordance with the Housing Allowance Act (WoGG)
Supplementary child benefit in accordance with the Child Benefit Act (BKGG) (not child benefit) - Income and asset-based benefits in accordance with the Social Code VIII (SGB VIII)
Since 01.01.2020 children under the age of 6 receive their own Bonus Card + Culture.
How do Stuttgart residents receive the Bonus Card + Culture for 2023 at the turn of the year?
1. Provision of benefits in accordance with the Social Code II
If your claim for benefits was approved by Stuttgart Job Centre by 6.12.2022 you will automatically receive the bonus Card + Culture by post at the end of 2022/2023.
If your claim for benefits was only approved by Stuttgart Job Centre after 6.12.2022 you will receive the Bonus Card + Culture after presenting the corresponding letter of approval at the Office for Voluntary Services at the Social Welfare Office.
2. Provision of benefits in accordance with the Social Code XII (social welfare and basic social benefits)
If your claim for benefits was approved by Stuttgart Social Welfare Office by 30.11.2022 you will automatically receive the Bonus Card + Culture by post at the end of 2022/2023.
If your claim for benefits was only approved by Stuttgart Social Welfare Office after 30.11.2022 you will receive the Bonus Card + Culture after registering with the Citizens'Service for Social Services or presenting your letter of approval at the Office for Voluntary Services at the Social Welfare Office.
3. Provision of benefits in accordance with the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act
If your claim for benefits was approved by Stuttgart Social Welfare Office by 30.11.2022 you will automatically receive the Bonus Card + Culture by post at the end of 2022/2023.
If your claim for benefits was only approved by Stuttgart Social Welfare Office after 30.11.2022 you will receive the Bonus Card + Culture after registering with the Citizens'Service for Social Services or presenting your letter of approval at the Office for Voluntary Services at the Social Welfare Office.
4. Provision of housing benefit, supplementary child benefit and benefit for young people
The Bonus Card + Culture is issued by the Office for Voluntary Services at the Social Welfare Office after your written application and upon presentation of your current letter of approval from the Housing Benefits Office, the Family Benefits Department or the Youth Welfare Office.
How do Stuttgart residents receive the Bonus Card + Culture 2023 during the year?
The Bonus Card + Culture 2023 can only be issued during the year after a written application has been made and current and complete notice of performance has been submitted regarding the receipt of one of the above-mentioned social benefits.
What happens if I lose the Bonus Card + Culture?
A lost Bonus Card + Culture can generally only be replaced upon presentation of proof that you are currently receiving social benefits.
What are discounts for children and young people?
- An exemption from costs for nursery schools, child daycare centres and care within the dependable primary school system.
- Free lunch in schools and nursery schools.
- No costs are incurred when staying at the Waldheim forest retreats, a nationwide holiday initiative for inner-city children.
- Participants receive a discount of 90% on courses at Stuttgart Music School.
- Granting of a freely available resources budget of € 50 per student for municipal general schools and special schools. This is applied by the schools on their own authority to support financially disadvantaged children in the areas of health, mobility, music and culture.
- Granting of a freely available resources budget of € 100 per child in daycare centres for children aged 0-6 years, student care for children aged 6-12 and full-day schools.
What are the further discounts?
The Bonus Card + Culture can be used for purchases in the Schwäbische Tafel food charity shops and the so-called social department stores. Information on the individual sales outlets and additional discounts can be found in the "Bonus Card + Culture 2023" flyer.
Holders of a Bonus Card + Culture, who benefit from the above-mentioned discounts, are not eligible for an annual SSB season ticket.
The discounted monthly ticket for Bonus Card holders (SocialTicket) can be obtained as a mobile ticket via the SSB Move App. By entering your Bonus Card number, you can conveniently purchase the SocialTicket as an Everyman MonthlyTicket or a 9:00 MonthlyTicket via the app. If you wish to use the SocialTicket for seniors or the 14:00 JuniorTicket, or if you do not wish to buy your ticket via the app, you will need a special "Combined Pass Bonus Card". If you do not yet have a Combined Pass, you will need to present your BonusCard + Culture 2023 in person at one of SSB's three customer centres. For a Combined Pass to use with the SeniorTicket or the 14:00 JuniorTicket, you must also present an official photo ID as proof of age.
Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG (SSB) customer centre - Hauptbahnhof
Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG (SSB) customer centre - Charlottenplatz
Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG (SSB) customer centre - Rotebühlplatz
Holders of a Bonus Card + Culture can purchase a social ticket at the reduced fares listed in the table:
Bonus Card - SocialTicket price (PDF)
How the card enables for Culture for All?
"Culture for All" enables the holders of the Bonus Card + Culture free admission to cultural events. A wide range of cultural institutions is involved in the new Stuttgart initiative and provides a certain quota of free tickets for their events. The admission tickets are
- free of charge
- from a fixed allocation
- from all price categories
- to be reserved and pre-ordered directly with the establishment just like with other discounted tickets
- to be obtained directly from the participating cultural establishments.
Social ticket from January 2023