Personenkreis

Personenkreis is a German term used primarily in law, administration, and social sciences to denote the group of individuals who are relevant for a given rule, decision, or situation. The word combines Person with Kreis (circle or group) and is used to describe the set of persons who are affected, entitled, or obliged under a particular context. The exact composition of the circle is determined by the governing rule, treaty, or administrative act and can vary from case to case.

In legal language, the Personenkreis defines the scope of rights and duties: who can claim a benefit or protection, who must comply with an obligation, or who may participate in a procedure. It is not a fixed class, but a purposive category that reflects the aims of the regulation or decision. The term is often replaced by or accompanied with more specific phrases such as Adressatenkreis (addressees), Anspruchsberechtigterkreis (circle of beneficiaries), or Betroffene (affected persons).

Applications span several domains: in social law, the Personenkreis of a benefit program determines eligibility; in administrative law, it marks who must be informed or who may appeal; in data protection, it describes the set of individuals whose personal data are processed. In practice, the concept emphasizes scope and inclusion rather than a rigid legal category and relies on the contextual interpretation of the relevant text or policy.