Federal Social Court
The Federal Social Court is the German federal court of appeals for social security cases, mainly cases concerning the public health insurance, long-term care insurance, pension insurance and occupational accident insurance schemes. Trial courts for these cases are the Sozialgerichte. Appeals against decisions of these courts are heard by the Landessozialgerichte, before the cases may wind up at the Bundessozialgericht.
The Bundessozialgericht is located in the city of Kassel.
History
The Federal Social Court was founded on 11 September 1954 and its first session was on 23 March 1955.Function
The Federal Social court hears appeals against decisions of the Landessozialgerichte or in special circumstances against decisions of the Sozialgerichte.Organisation
The Chambers of the Federal Social Court are called Senat. They each consist of 3 Judges and 2 lay judges.The court consists of 14 Chambers. 1. Senat: public health insurance2. Senat: occupational accident insurance3. Senat: public health insurance, long-term care insurance, social insurance for artists4. Senat: basic needs coverage for people looking for employment 5. Senat: statutory pension insurance6. Senat: contracts with dentists and doctors7. Senat: benefits for asylum seekers8. Senat: Sozialhilfe9. Senat: damages, disability, help for blind people10. Senat: pensions for farmers, benefits regarding child care, legal protection against artificially long trials11. Senat: unemployment benefits, and other matters involving the Bundesagentur für Arbeit12. Senat: insurance membership and payments13. Senat: statutory pension insurance14. Senat: basic needs for people looking for employment, §6a and §6b Kindergeldgesetz