Official language

(1) The official language is German. Persons with hearing impairments and persons with speech impairments have the right to communicate in German sign language, in signs accompanying spoken language, or by other suitable means of communication assistance; the costs of communication assistance are borne by the authority or by the provider of benefits competent for the social benefit. Section 5 of the Communication Assistance Ordinance, in the version in force from time to time, applies correspondingly.
(1a) Section 11 of the Act on Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, in the version in force from time to time, applies correspondingly to the social administrative procedure.
(2) Where applications are made to an authority, or submissions, vouchers, documents or other papers are presented, in a foreign language, the authority should demand without delay the presentation of a translation within a reasonable period to be set by it, unless it is able to understand the applications or documents. In justified cases, the presentation of a certified translation, or one prepared by a publicly appointed or sworn interpreter or translator, may be demanded. Where the translation demanded is not presented within the period set, the authority may procure a translation and demand reasonable reimbursement of its outlays for this. Where the authority has engaged interpreters or translators who are not communication assistance within the meaning of subsection (1), second sentence, they receive, on application, remuneration by correspondent application of the Judicial Remuneration and Compensation Act; the authority may agree remuneration with interpreters or translators.
(3) Where a notice, an application or the making of a declaration of intent is to set a period running within which the authority must act in a particular manner, and these are received in a foreign language, the running of the period begins only at the point in time at which a translation is available to the authority.
(4) Where a notice, an application or a declaration of intent received in a foreign language is intended, for the benefit of a party, to preserve a period vis-à-vis the authority, to assert a public-law claim, or to seek a social benefit, the notice, the application or the declaration of intent is deemed to have been made at the point in time of its receipt by the authority, where the authority is able to understand the notice, the application or the declaration of intent, or where a translation is presented within the period set. Otherwise the point in time of receipt of the translation is decisive. This legal consequence must be pointed out when the period is set.