The Deutschland-Ticket has been available since 1 May 2023. It is valid on local public transport throughout Germany and costs 49 euros per month. The ticket is already very cheap. Nevertheless, 49 euros a month is a lot of money for some people.

The Hessian state government wants to make it possible for people on low incomes to buy the ticket. That is why it is offering a discounted subscription to the Deutschland-Ticket for currently 31 euros per month for anyone who lives in Hesse and receives certain social benefits. The difference to the normal ticket price is paid by the state of Hesse. To be able to buy the ticket at a reduced price, proof of eligibility must be presented to the sales office. This is called the "Hessenpass mobil" and is valid for a whole year.

The Deutschland-Ticket, which is discounted with the Hessenpass mobil, costs 31 euros per month for a subscription.

To be able to buy a discounted Deutschland-Ticket, you need a proof of eligibility, the Hessenpass mobil. 

The Hessenpass mobil is available to anyone who lives in Hessen and receives at least one of the below-mentioned social welfare services:

• receive a citizen's allowance,
• receive housing benefit,
• receive social assistance,

or are asylum seekers. 

In concrete terms, this means: persons entitled to benefits in accordance with § 7 of the Second Book of the Social Code (SGB II), persons entitled to housing benefit in accordance with § 3 Paragraphs 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the Housing Benefit Act (WoGG), persons entitled to benefits in accordance with § 19 Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Twelfth Book of the Social Code (SGB XII) who receive regular benefits in accordance with the third or fourth chapter of SGB XII, and persons entitled to benefits in accordance with § 1 of the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act (AsylbLG).

The Hessenpass mobil is automatically sent to the entitled persons by the locally responsible office. When purchasing the discounted Deutschland-Ticket, the Hessenpass mobil must be presented to the sales office.

Exception:

If you receive Bürgergeld from one of the following job centres, you will not automatically receive the certificate:

• City of Darmstadt
• City of Frankfurt am Main
• District of Gießen
• District of Limburg-Weilburg
• City of Kassel
• District of Kassel
• Schwalm-Eder District
• Waldeck-Frankenberg district
• Wetterau district
• Werra-Meißner district

In this case, you will receive the certificate on request from your locally responsible social benefits agency.

The Deutschland-Ticket at a reduced rate with the Hessenpass mobil is valid for one person and is valid for 12 months from the first day of the month requested. 
It entitles the holder to use

• regional trains (RE, IRE, RB, S-Bahn) in 2nd class throughout Germany.
• buses, trams and underground trains of the transport associations, state tariff companies or transport companies throughout Germany
• of the ferry service, insofar as this is part of the tariff of the transport association. 

Where association fares also apply in neighbouring countries, the discounted Deutschland-Ticket can also be used.
It is not valid on long-distance services operated by Deutsche Bahn (e.g. InterCity, ICE, EC) or other railways/long-distance bus operators (e.g. FlixTrain/FlixBus).  
The following applies in the RMV network area: A surcharge of €3.80 must be paid for the AirLiner from Darmstadt to Frankfurt Airport. The surcharge tickets are available from the driving staff, the RMV sales offices of HEAG mobilo and in the HEAG mobilo app. For on-demand services, the basic fare does not apply, only a comfort surcharge and the kilometre price have to be paid.
In the VRN network area, you can also use it for journeys with the Krebsbachtalbahn and the Bundenthaler, as well as for journeys to Lauterbourg and Wissembourg.

You can only use the discounted Deutschland-Ticket with the Hessenpass mobil for yourself. Children under the age of 6 can travel free of charge. If you want to take other people with you, they need their own ticket.

As a rule, all names of the persons living in the household who are entitled to receive the benefit are named on the Hessenpass mobil entitlement letter. If all persons want to use the entitlement, it is advisable to copy the letter once for each person.

If not all persons listed on the certificate wish to purchase a ticket, the consent of the persons listed must be obtained before this certificate is presented, or the relevant names and personal data must be made unrecognisable. This is for data protection reasons.

The Deutschland-Ticket discounted with the Hessenpass mobil belongs to a specific person and cannot be passed on to other persons. The ticket is only valid for the person for whom it was issued. Therefore, a photo ID must be carried, e.g. identity card or residence permit, and must be shown in the event of a ch

The regulations for reimbursement remain unaffected. To check whether the costs will be reimbursed in your case, please contact the competent office.

You will automatically receive the Hessenpass mobil as proof of eligibility for the discounted Deutschland-Ticket from the office from which you also receive the notification for your social benefit.

Exception:
If you receive Bürgergeld from one of the following job centres, you will not automatically receive the certificate:
City of Darmstadt           
City of Frankfurt am Main           
District of Gießen                           
District of Limburg-Weilburg          
City of Kassel                            
District of Kassel                            
Schwalm-Eder District               
Waldeck-Frankenberg district   
Wetterau district                          
Werra-Meißner district
In this case, you will receive the certificate on request from your locally competent social benefits agency.

The credentials are sent automatically by the offices responsible for social benefits. You do not have to do anything for this. If you have not received a certificate so far, please contact the office that issues your notice for the social benefit.

Exception:
If you receive Bürgergeld from one of the following Job Centres, you will not receive the certificate automatically:
City of Darmstadt           
City of Frankfurt am Main           
District of Gießen                           
District of Limburg-Weilburg          
City of Kassel                            
District of Kassel                            
Schwalm-Eder District               
Waldeck-Frankenberg district   
Wetterau district                          
Werra-Meißner district
In this case, you will receive the certificate on request from your locally responsible social benefits agency.

Please contact the competent office that issues the new Hessenpass mobil for you.

The period of validity of the entitlement certificate is printed on the Hessenpass mobil. The discounted Deutschland-Ticket is issued for one year. A renewal application must be submitted via a new order form by the 10th of the month before the ticket expires. The renewal requires the renewed presentation of a Hessenpass mobil valid at that time.

You can purchase the discounted Deutschland-Ticket for the first time with effect from 1 August 2023. The order deadline is always the 10th of the month prior to the validity start date. So for a validity start date of 1 August, the order must be placed by 10 July.

The discounted Deutschland-Ticket can be purchased using an order form. You can find the order form on the RMV website www.rmv.de. It can be filled out online. The order form must then be printed out and signed. Please then send the order form together with the proof of eligibility for the Hessenpass mobil to the address given on the order form. Of course, you can also go to a sales office near you and fill in the order form there and hand it in together with the proof of entitlement.

The Deutschland-Ticket will be sent to you by post as an eTicket on a chip card. It is not possible to purchase the Deutschland-Ticket directly at the sales office, nor can it be paid for in cash.

As long as the Hessenpass mobil entitlement certificate is valid, a discounted Deutschland-Ticket (for up to 12 months) can be purchased. To purchase the discounted Deutschland-Ticket, it is necessary that at least one day of the validity period of the Hessenpass mobil coincides with the first day of the validity period of the discounted Deutschland-Ticket.

To order the Hessenpass mobil discounted Deutschland-Ticket, you will need the following:

• An order form that you must fill out. In this form, you must also provide a SEPA direct debit mandate that includes your bank details. Please sign the order form. 
• Your proof of eligibility Hessenpass mobil. You must be able to prove that you are entitled to receive the Deutschland-Ticket at a reduced price.

To pay for the discounted Deutschland-Ticket by subscription, you must give the sales office or the transport company a SEPA direct debit mandate. This means that the cost of the discounted Deutschland-Ticket of 31 euros will be debited from your bank account every month. You must therefore ensure that there is enough money in the account to cover the monthly debits. Payment in cash or by bank transfer is not possible.

Cash payment of the discounted Deutschland-Ticket is not possible. It must always be ordered in writing and can only be paid for with a SEPA direct debit mandate via your bank account.

The Deutschland-Ticket, which is discounted with the Hessenpass mobil, is issued as an eTicket on a chip card. The chip card makes it possible to check the ticket throughout Germany. You must have the chip card with you on all journeys.

To use the discounted Deutschland-Ticket with the Hessenpass mobil, it is necessary to cancel the existing Deutschland-Ticket subscription in RMVgo by the 10th of the month with effect from the end of the month. You will find this function in RMVgo as soon as the 1st day of validity has begun under "My tickets" > "Ticket detail view" > "Cancel subscription" > confirm. The subscription will then not be renewed at the beginning of the next month.

You can cancel the Deutschland-Ticket, which is discounted with the Hessenpass mobil, at any time. Please note: The cancellation must be made in writing by the 10th of a month. The cancellation will then take effect on the 1st day of the following month. If the cancellation is made after the 10th of a month, the ticket will only end at the end of the following month.

Example: If you no longer wish to use the ticket from 1 November, you must cancel on 10 October at the latest. If you cancel on 11 October, the ticket is still valid until 30 November.

The proof of eligibility Hessenpass mobil must be presented when purchasing the Deutschland-Ticket. A refund is not possible at a later date.

The regulations for reimbursement remain unaffected. To check whether the costs will be reimbursed in your case, please contact the competent office.