Bürgergeld beantragen (vormals Arbeitslosengeld II / Sozialgeld)

• § 7 Zweites Buch Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB II) – Leistungsberechtigte
• § 7a SGB II – Altersgrenze
• § 8 SGB II – Erwerbsfähigkeit
• § 9 SGB II – Hilfebedürftigkeit
• §§ 19 bis 28 SGB II – Leistungen zur Sicherung des Lebensunterhalts
• 12. Änderungsgesetz zum Zeiten Buch Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB II) – Bundesgetzblatt 51/2022 vom 20.12.2022

Application for benefits to secure your livelihood according to the Second Book of the Social Code (SGB II) (formerly also "Hartz IV", "ALG II")

If you are not able to work, cannot cover your living expenses from your own income and even priority benefits (unemployment benefit, housing benefit, child supplement, etc.) are not sufficient, you will receive a so-called citizen's allowance from January 2023. The job centres will advise you on this and on other basic benefits.

If they are in need, all persons who are capable of working and entitled to benefits from the age of 15 up to the statutory age limit between 65 and 67 can apply for the citizen's benefit. Persons who are not capable of working and who live in the same household as those entitled to the citizen's benefit also receive this benefit.

Citizen's benefit instead of Unemployment Benefit II and Social Benefit

If you receive Arbeitslosengeld II or Sozialgeld, you will also receive Bürgergeld. You do not have to file a new application for this. If you were already entitled to Arbeitslosengeld II or Sozialgeld, you will also be entitled to Bürgergeld. All approved benefits remain valid, even into the year 2023. The procedure for granting benefits remains unchanged.

Submit your application for continued approval as before.

Note: If you are in need of assistance and unable to work, you are entitled to social assistance (assistance for subsistence in case of reduced earning capacity) according to the provisions of the Twelfth Book of the Social Code (SGB XII), insofar as there is no entitlement to social allowance.

The basic benefits for jobseekers include

• Benefits for integration into work (e.g. information, counselling, placement, vocational qualification) and
• Benefits to ensure subsistence (e.g. citizen's benefit, basic income support).

Benefit amounts

Flat-rate monthly standard needs (valid from 01.01.2023)

• Single person, single parent: EUR 502.00
• Joint households:
• two partners of full age: EUR 902.00 = 2 x EUR 451.00
• plus per child up to the age of 6 (0-5 years): EUR 285.00
• plus per child from the beginning of the 7th year of life until the completion of the 14th year of life (6-13 years): EUR 348.00
• plus per child from the beginning of the 15th year of life until the completion of the 18th year of life (14-17 years): EUR 420.00
• plus per child up to the age of 25 (18-24 years): EUR 402.00

The benefit is reduced by income and assets to be taken into account. For more information on this, the scope of and how to apply for the citizen's allowance and other basic benefits, please contact the Job Centre.

One-off benefits

In addition to the standard needs, the following one-off benefits can be granted if required:

• Initial furnishings for the home including household appliances
• Initial clothing, including for pregnancy and childbirth
• Purchase and repairs of orthopaedic shoes, repairs of therapeutic appliances and equipment, as well as rental of therapeutic equipment

Needs for education and participation

For children, adolescents and young adults up to the age of 25, there are so-called needs for education and participation under certain conditions in addition to the standard needs. This applies, for example, to school excursions, the provision of personal school supplies, school transport, lunch and other items.

Please ask your Job Centre whether separate applications are required for certain types of benefits.

Social security and pension insurance

While you are receiving the citizen's benefit, you are compulsorily insured under the health and long-term care insurance scheme. Contributions to pension insurance are not paid. However, the Job Centre will inform the pension insurance fund of the period during which you are receiving the Bürgergeld. They will check whether there is a credit period.

• Identity card (or passport and registration certificate
• Proof of income
• if applicable, proof of previous receipt of benefits
• Proof of expenses and existing assets

Please refer to the application form for details of the other documents you need to submit.

• If you are not fit for work,
• cannot cover your living expenses from your own income,
• even priority benefits (unemployment benefit, housing benefit, child supplement, etc.) are not sufficient.

You can find detailed information on the websites of the Federal Employment Agency and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (links see -> Further information).

• for the application: none
• if applicable: fees when cashing the payment order

In order to be able to receive citizen's benefit, you must submit an application. The Job Centre can advise you on this in advance. Forms and additional sheets with instructions (also in different languages) are available as online forms.

You can only obtain paper application forms from the office responsible for you.

• Follow the instructions and read the instructions for completing the form.
• Print out the application and also call up the necessary additional sheets for information on accommodation and heating, assets and other persons in your community of need.
• Please fill in the forms conscientiously and completely.
• Compile the necessary supporting documents.
• Submit the complete application documents to the competent office in person or in writing.

Examination and approval

The responsible staff of the competent office will examine your claim on the basis of the application documents submitted.

You will receive written notification that your claim has been approved.

Payment

Cash benefits will be paid at the beginning of the month to the account you specified in your application. Payments can also be transferred to other accounts at your request (e.g. rental expenses to the landlord or beneficiary).

Cash payment on payment order

If you do not have the money transferred to an account, the cash benefit will be sent to you by a "payment order for settlement" (subject to a charge). You can submit this to your financial institution for credit within one month. The branches of Deutsche Post and Deutsche Postbank will also pay the amount to you or a person authorised by you in cash.

Cash payment in an emergency

Cash payments are possible in urgent emergencies. Please ask your Jobcenter which cash payments are offered.

Job search and job placement

While you are receiving the citizen's benefit allowance, you must actively look for work and follow the placement offers of your competent office. You will not be expected to work if you are unable to look after a young child or care for a relative.

Reporting changes

You are obliged to report any changes (such as illness, holidays, moving house, taking up a job) to the competent office immediately. This notification can be made in writing via the notification of change or in person.

• for the application: none
• Start of payment: usually from the 1st of the month of application (no retroactive payment possible)
• Period of receipt: up to 12 months (continued receipt upon application)

Note: If you are currently still receiving unemployment benefits, it is advisable to apply early before these benefits expire so that you do not get into financial hardship.

Objection (details in the decision)