aid / assistance
Loading your saved state.
financial aid
Financial support or a subsidy granted by a state or public institution to cover certain costs. It is especially known as a subsidy for medical expenses for civil servants in Germany.
Als Beamtin erhält sie eine Beihilfe zu den Kosten für ärztliche Behandlungen.
As a civil servant, she receives financial aid toward the costs of medical treatment.
aiding and abetting
In the legal sense, helping another person commit a crime. The person who provides assistance is referred to as an accomplice.
Er wurde wegen Beihilfe zum Diebstahl zu einer Geldstrafe verurteilt.
He was sentenced to a fine for aiding and abetting theft.
The word is made up of the prefix 'Bei-' and the noun 'Hilfe' (help). It describes help that is provided additionally or in support of something else.
Er hat Beihilfe zu seinen Krankheitskosten beantragt.
He applied for financial aid for his medical expenses.
The meaning depends strongly on context. In texts about finances, civil servants, or medical costs, it refers to financial support. In a legal context involving topics like the police or court, it refers to helping with a crime.
Als Beamter reicht er seine Rechnungen bei der Beihilfe ein.
As a civil servant, he submits his invoices to the financial aid office.
In connection with financial support, 'Beihilfe' (financial aid) is often used with verbs such as 'beantragen' (to apply for), 'erhalten' (to receive), or 'gewähren' (to grant). You can also have 'Anspruch auf Beihilfe' (entitlement to financial aid).
Studierende aus einkommensschwachen Familien können eine Beihilfe zum Lebensunterhalt beantragen.
Students from low-income families can apply for financial aid for living expenses.
In the legal sense, the fixed expression is 'Beihilfe leisten' (to aid and abet). The crime being helped with is indicated with the preposition 'zu' and the dative.
Dem Angeklagten wird Beihilfe zur Steuerhinterziehung vorgeworfen.
The defendant is accused of aiding and abetting tax evasion.
support
Both words can mean financial help to cover specific costs. Unterstützung is a general term, whereas Beihilfe refers to a benefit provided by a state or public institution and therefore sounds more defined. When it concerns public help with costs, Beihilfe is usually the more precise choice.
Die öffentliche Stelle gewährt Beamten eine Beihilfe zu den Krankheitskosten.
The public institution grants civil servants financial aid toward their medical expenses.
Die Stadt bietet Familien finanzielle Unterstützung für die Betreuungskosten.
The city provides families with financial support for childcare costs.
