Social Security - Unemployment Insurance

Unemployment insurance helps integrate individuals into work and training. It is compulsory. It provides subsistence in the event of unemployment. Everyone engaged in paid employment is covered.

In Germany the Bundesagentur für Arbeit is responsible for providing unemployment benefit. The receipt of employment benefit is subject to a number of conditions. You are required, no later than three months after the termination of your employment, to register in person as a jobseeker with the employment agency. You can obtain benefit only if you register your unemployment with the employment agency. The benefit is then regarded as applied for at the same time. Consequently, it is important that you visit your employment agency on the very first day that you are unemployed. To find out whether you are entitled to unemployment benefit, you must complete an application form and present the following documents: your identity card with a registration certificate, your employment records (at least your wage tax card) and, where appropriate, evidence of previous receipt of benefit.

However, only individuals who were employed in an employment relationship subject to insurance for at least 360 days in the last two years prior to the time they registered as unemployed are entitled to unemployment benefit. The amount and duration of unemployment benefit are determined by the amount of your previous income and the length of your previous employment. An individual who is single and has no children receives 60% of his standard net remuneration as unemployment benefit. If you or your partner are looking after a child under the age of 18, this rate rises to 67%.

Jobseekers and individuals capable of work who are not entitled to unemployment benefit, or whose entitlement expires, receive a State subsistence allowance known as 'Arbeitslosengeld II' (ALGII) (category II unemployment benefit). The fixed amount of this basic allowance is generally considerably lower than unemployment benefit. Anyone who is incapable of work on grounds of old age or disability receives 'Sozialgeld' (income support). It is roughly the same amount as Arbeitslosengeld II.

Text last edited on: 11/2006

Source: European Union
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