There is a special category of exempt assets called Schonvermögen. Examples include:

• Smaller sums of money (from the age of 60 onward or if the person has suffered a loss of earning capacity, € 2,600)
• Reasonable residential property where the person who requires care resides
• Assets that are demonstrably intended for prompt procurement or maintenance of a reasonable residential property
• Capital used for additional old-age pension provisions (according to the German Income Tax Act (Einkommenssteuergesetz)), including the earnings

Items that are essential in order to begin/engage in professional or vocational training or work activities (such as a car)