Arbeitslosengeld beantragen

• §§ 136 bis 148 Sozialgesetzbuch Drittes Buch (SGB III) - Regelvoraussetzungen, Anspruchsdauer
• §§ 149 bis 154 SGB III - Höhe des Arbeitslosengeldes
• §§ 155 bis 161 SGB III - Minderung / Ruhen / Erlöschen des Anspruchs
• § 850k Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) - Pfändungsschutzkonto

Application for payment of unemployment benefit under Social Code III (Unemployment Benefit I)

If you have paid into the unemployment insurance scheme as an employee you are entitled to unemployment benefit. You can obtain the application form when you register at the employment office. You can also apply online, but even then you must register as unemployed in person.

The Employment Agency will check your entitlement to unemployment benefit. You are entitled to it if you have been employed for at least twelve months within the last two years and have paid into the social security system.

Duration

How long you are entitled to unemployment benefit depends on

• how old you are
• how long you have been employed in the last five years
• whether residual entitlements can be taken into account

Calculation

The amount of your unemployment benefit (benefit rate) is based on your gross salary before becoming unemployed (assessment salary). Contributions to social security, income tax and the solidarity surcharge are deducted from this amount. The remaining amount (net pay) serves as the basis for calculating your individual unemployment benefit.

Generally, the benefit rate is 60 per cent of the net pay. A benefit rate of 67 per cent is granted if you care for a child together with your spouse or civil partner and do not live permanently separated. The partner must be fully liable for income tax.

This scheme takes into account

• natural children
• adopted children
• Foster children

Attention! There are exceptions to all the regulations mentioned, which may have an effect on the amount of unemployment benefit.

• Valid identity card or valid passport with registration certificate, if applicable with proof of residence status
• Certificate of employment from employer
• tax identification number

• if available:
  • Proof of residence status
  • Letter of resignation or declaration to quit work
  • Certificate of receipt of sickness benefit
  • Certificate of additional income
  • Proof of previous receipt of benefits from another employment agency

• You are unemployed
• You are available for job placement
• You have personally registered as unemployed with your employment agency
• You have completed the qualifying period

You meet the qualifying period if you have worked for at least twelve months during the last two years and have paid into the social insurance system. You also fulfil the qualifying period if you have received sickness benefit.

Note: You are not entitled to unemployment benefit when you reach the regular retirement age.

• Application: none
• Payment order: EUR 2.85

• You register personally at your competent employment agency. If you have registered as a jobseeker by telephone, an appointment will be made with you. The same happens if you submit the application online.
• The employment agency responsible for you will use the basic application to check which entitlements you have acquired and can claim.
• You will receive a certificate of employment with the basic application.

Verification and submission

• Have your last employer fill out the certificate of employment.
• Fill in the basic application form and any supplementary forms carefully and completely.
• Hand in your application with all documents in person. If there are any questions, they will be clarified on the spot. The application will be processed immediately in your presence.

Note: You will only receive additional sheets if the Employment Agency requires further information for your application.

Examination and decision

• If you hand in your application in person, it will be processed immediately and you will receive information on the start and duration of your claim.
• If you do not hand in your application in person, it will take some time to process it.
• On the basis of your documents, the competent employment agency will examine your application for unemployment benefit and issue you with a written decision on the granting of benefits.
• The decision will tell you, among other things, the duration and amount of the payments to which you are entitled on a daily and monthly basis.

Payment

• Unemployment benefit is regularly paid monthly in arrears to your account at a financial institution in the Federal Republic of Germany.
• You must be the account holder or at least a joint account holder.
• If you do not have an account at a domestic financial institution, the cash benefit will be sent to you by means of a "payment order for settlement" at a charge. You can submit this to your financial institution for credit within one month.

Job search and placement

• While you are receiving unemployment benefit, you must try to find a new job and follow reasonable placement recommendations made by the Employment Agency.
• You are obliged to inform the competent office immediately of any changes. This includes, among other things, illness, holidays, moving house and taking up a job. You can obtain the form for notifying changes from your employment agency. The notification can be made in writing, by telephone, online or also in person at the employment agency.

The obligation to report arises in the case of

• an employment relationship of indefinite duration: immediately after receipt of notice of termination or after conclusion of a termination agreement,
• a fixed-term employment relationship: three months before its termination, or
• an extra-company training in the dual system: three months before its termination.

You are obliged to report unemployment or expected unemployment to an employment agency in person at an early stage. Notification by telephone or written notification stating personal data and the date of termination is sufficient if you make an appointment to make up for the personal notification.

Attention If you do not comply with your obligation to report, your unemployment benefit will be suspended for one week. During this week you are not covered by social insurance!

Additional earnings

While you are receiving unemployment benefit, you may have a job or employment. If you earn more than EUR 165 per month, this amount will be deducted from your benefit.

As soon as you work more than 15 hours per week, you are no longer considered unemployed. In this case, you are no longer entitled to unemployment benefit.

You must report any secondary employment to the Employment Agency immediately. This also applies to unpaid work and honorary posts. Your employer or client will fill out the "Certificate of Secondary Income" together with you.

Attachment of unemployment benefit

Unemployment benefit entitlements can be transferred, pledged or attached in the same way as earned income. You can set up garnishment protection by opening a garnishment protection account at a bank or savings bank and having your unemployment benefit transferred to this account. Maximum limits are set for garnishment protection.