Source: BUS Sachsen-Anhalt (Linie6PLus)

Apply for unemployment benefit

Description

Unemployment benefit is a remuneration replacement benefit and is intended to partially replace the remuneration that employees are unable to earn due to unemployment.

You are entitled to unemployment benefits as soon as you first meet the requirements.

The length of time you are entitled to unemployment benefits depends on the length of time you were insured during the last 5 years before becoming unemployed and on the age you reached when your entitlement arose. You are entitled to at least 6 months of unemployment benefit if you have been in an employment relationship subject to compulsory insurance for at least 12 months within the last 30 months. The maximum period of entitlement is

for unemployed persons under 50 years of age: 12 months and requires an insurance period of at least 24 months.
for unemployed persons over 50: 24 months and requires that the unemployed person has reached the age of 58 and has completed at least 48 months of insurance.

As a rule, your unemployment benefit is calculated on the basis of the gross salary you earned on average in the last year before your entitlement to unemployment benefit arose. The amount is

for unemployed persons with one child, 67 percent
for other unemployed persons 60 percent

of the gross pay reduced by the statutory deductions that usually apply to employees.

While you are receiving unemployment benefits, you are generally covered by statutory health, nursing care and pension insurance. The contributions are paid by the Federal Employment Agency. If you were last exempt from compulsory pension insurance or health and long-term care insurance, the BA can usually partially cover the contributions for a private pension plan.

You are covered by accident insurance if you receive a special request to visit the Employment Agency or another office while receiving benefits.

You must notify them immediately of any changes (such as illness, vacation, moving, starting a job), most easily online. Alternatively, you can also make the notifications in writing, by telephone or in person.

Requirements

You are entitled to unemployment benefit if

you are unemployed, that is,
- you are not in an employment relationship or
- you are only engaged in gainful employment for less than 15 hours a week, and
- You are available to the placement efforts of the Employment Agency. In other words, you are able and willing to take up employment subject to compulsory insurance under conditions customary in the labor market;
You are
- electronically using an electronic proof of identity, for example an ID card with online ID function, in the eServices portal of the Federal Employment Agency, or
- have registered for unemployment in person at the relevant employment agency. When you register for unemployment in person, you are deemed to have applied for unemployment benefits. In addition, a claim form must be filled out;
you have been subject to compulsory insurance for at least 12 months within the last 30 months before registering as unemployed (the so-called framework period).
- Periods during which you were subject to compulsory insurance for employment promotion due to the receipt of income replacement benefits, such as sickness benefits, or - under further conditions - due to the care of a relative or the upbringing of a child, for example, are also taken into account.
- Periods during which you were subject to compulsory insurance (so-called voluntary continued insurance) can also be taken into account as insurance periods, for example because you took up self-employment.
- In special cases, periods during which you performed development service in accordance with the Development Workers Act (Entwicklungshelfergesetz) or worked abroad on the basis of a secondment contract are also taken into account.

Which documents are required?

Identity card with current registration address
Passport/replacement document in conjunction with a current registration certificate
In the case of online unemployment registration: ID card with the online ID function enabled and activated
Certificate of employment (to be completed by the employer)

The Employment Agency may request additional documents, for example:

Letter of termination
Declaration of termination of employment
Certificate of receipt of sick pay
Certificate of additional income
Proof (notice of approval, proof of benefits) of previous receipt of benefits (unemployment benefits, also from another employment agency)
Proof of contributions (compulsory application for unemployment insurance)

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

Unemployment benefits are deemed to have been applied for when you personally register for unemployment, unless you make a different declaration. You avoid disadvantages if

you register personally as unemployed on the 1st day of unemployment at the latest,
you register as a jobseeker in due time and
immediately report any changes that occur in your personal circumstances after you have filed your application.

Applications / forms

Appeal. You will find further information on how to lodge an appeal in the notification of your claim.
Action before the social court

Appeal

Forms available: Yes
Written form required: No
Informal application possible: Yes
Personal appearance required: No
Online services available: Yes

Process flow

You can apply for unemployment benefits online or in person.

Apply for unemployment benefits online:

To apply online, access the Federal Employment Agency's "eServices" online portal and click on the "Apply for unemployment benefits" tile there.
Note that even in this case, you must register for unemployment in order to receive unemployment benefits.
The Employment Agency will check your entitlement to unemployment benefits.
If your application documents or other reasons do not yet allow a final decision, the Employment Agency can grant you an advance payment upon application, provided that a claim to benefits exists on the merits.
You will receive a written decision by mail about the approval of the benefits, in which the amount and duration of your entitlement to unemployment benefits are noted. You can also receive the notice online by selecting the appropriate notification option in your online profile.
Unemployment benefits will be paid monthly in arrears, free of charge, to the account you specify. This means that the benefit for the current month will be paid at the end of the month. In case of financial difficulties, this principle can be deviated from upon request. Ask your agency about this.
In exceptional cases, you can have your unemployment benefit paid by check. You can submit the "payment order for clearing" sent to you by mail to your financial institution for credit within one month or have the amount paid out to yourself (or to a person authorized by you) in cash at any Deutsche Post or Deutsche Postbank disbursement office. However, this will incur additional costs.

Apply for unemployment benefits in person:

To apply in person, contact your local employment agency. You will usually receive the application form and, if necessary, other documents (so-called "supplementary sheets") when you register for unemployment in person.
The Employment Agency will check your entitlement to unemployment benefits.
If your application documents or other reasons do not yet allow a final decision, the Employment Agency can grant you an advance payment upon application, provided that a claim to benefits exists on the merits.
You will receive a written decision by mail about the approval of the benefits, in which the amount and duration of your entitlement to unemployment benefits are noted. You can also receive the notice online by selecting the appropriate notification option in your online profile.
Unemployment benefits will be paid monthly in arrears, free of charge, to the account you specify. This means that the benefit for the current month will be paid at the end of the month. In case of financial difficulties, this principle can be deviated from upon request. Ask your agency about this.
In exceptional cases, you can have your unemployment benefit paid by check. You can submit the "payment order for clearing" sent to you by mail to your financial institution for credit within one month or have the amount paid out to yourself (or to a person authorized by you) in cash at any Deutsche Post or Deutsche Postbank disbursement office. However, this will incur additional costs.