Unemployment & Job Search

Unemployment benefit, or ALG (from the German word Arbeitslosengeld), provides a social safety net in case you lose your job or training position. It replaces part of your missing income so that you can continue to pay your bills.

In Germany, children, teens and young adults are supposed to have equal opportunities. Education and participation in social and cultural activities are important factors in ensuring equal opportunity. For this reason, the state provides benefits to support education and participation. This is also known as the education and participation package.

If you do not have enough money to cover your living expenses, you may be entitled to citizen's allowance. In order to receive it, you must either live in a community of need with a citizen's allowance recipient or generally be able to work. If this does not apply to you, you can apply for assistance with living expenses or basic income support.

Do you have a low income? Then under certain conditions you can get a certificate of eligibility for a reduced local transport ticket. This allows you to travel more cheaply on regional buses and (streetcar) trains. You can find out more about this benefit here.

Do you have a low income and would like to receive discounts at municipal facilities in your area, for example at the public library or swimming pool? If your town or municipality offers this voluntary service, you can apply for the low-income pass. You can find out more here.

As an employer with at least 20 employees per month, do you not employ the legally required number of severely disabled people? Then you are obliged to pay a compensatory levy. You can find more information here.

If you, as an employer, would like to employ eligible persons, you can apply to the Jobcenter for wage subsidies in accordance with the Participation Opportunities Act (Teilhabechancengesetz). Persons who have been unemployed for at least two years and receive citizen's benefits (Bürgergeld) are eligible. You can find more information about the benefit here.

Do you receive Citizen's Benefit and are self-employed? Or are you planning to become self-employed as your main occupation after receiving the citizen's benefit? The Jobcenter can support you in becoming self-employed. You can find more information here.

If you are an employer and would like to employ long-term unemployed people, you can apply to the Jobcenter for wage subsidies in accordance with the Participation Opportunities Act. People who have not been able to find a job for many years and who receive citizen's benefit are eligible. You can find information on the benefit here.