Unemployment benefits and basic income support

If you lose your job or work less than 15 hours per week, you may be entitled to unemployment benefit I in accordance with SGB III. The prerequisite is that you were employed subject to compulsory insurance and have paid into unemployment insurance long enough.

As a rule, you will receive unemployment benefit amounting to 60% of your previous net salary. The period of your employment and your age determine whether and for how long you receive unemployment benefit.

You can find out whether you are entitled to unemployment benefit from the relevant employment agency. You can also submit the relevant application there.

Important: In order to receive unemployment benefit, you must register with the employment agency in good time if

• it is likely that you will lose your job. Register as a jobseeker at least 3 months before the end of your employment.
• you learn of your dismissal. Register no later than 3 days afterwards in order to receive unemployment benefit in good time.

If you have not found a new job by the time your employment actually ends, register as unemployed on the first day of unemployment at the latest.

If you are older than 14 and not yet of retirement age, are basically able to work and your income or assets are not sufficient, you can apply for citizen's allowance in accordance with SGB II.

If you live with other people, in most cases you form a community of need and the total income of all household members is used as the basis for calculating the citizen's allowance.

Any remaining assets up to 40,000 euros (plus 15,000 euros per additional person in the household) are not counted towards the citizen's allowance. Inheritances count as assets. If you earn an income, only part of it is exempt. Maternity benefit, on the other hand, is not counted as income.

You can apply for citizen's allowance at your local Jobcenter, in Jena at jenarbeit.

Benefit content

The citizen's allowance consists of a standard rate for food, clothing, household items and personal needs. Different standard rates are based on your personal living conditions.

In addition, the costs of your accommodation are covered up to a certain limit. This includes rent, heating and operating costs, costs for hot water supply as well as additional payments and prescribed renovation costs.

Your accommodation must be appropriate in terms of size according to the number of family members and the costs according to local conditions. You are responsible for all electricity costs.

Under special circumstances, you may also receive a subsidy (additional needs), e.g. if you are an expectant mother or single parent. People with a disability or an illness that requires a costly diet can also receive an additional needs allowance.

One-off allowances are sometimes granted.

Anyone who is not gainfully employed and under the age of 25 may receive no or less support under SGB II if they move out of their parents' home into their own home without prior agreement. Moving out of the parental home is only possible with the consent of the Jobcenter.

People aged 65 and over and people who are permanently no longer able to work are no longer entitled to citizen's allowance. They receive basic income support in accordance with SGB XII (social assistance) if their income is insufficient. Social assistance is therefore basic security in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity.

If you are ill for longer than 6 months but are still temporarily ill and cannot be placed in employment, you will also receive assistance with living expenses in accordance with SGB XII.

Various standard rates are based on your personal living conditions. One-off allowances may also be granted. Reasonable accommodation costs are covered, with the exception of electricity costs.

The benefits essentially correspond to those of SGB II. You can submit an application to the local social welfare office, in Jena to the social welfare team.

The Housing Benefit Act (WoGG) provides for financial assistance if you do not receive benefits under SGB II, XII or AsylBLG and still have a low income. Recipients of other benefits, e.g. vocational training allowance, are also excluded from housing benefit.

Under certain conditions, you may still be eligible, e.g. if you live with other family members as a tenant and live together. Seek advice locally if necessary.

Housing benefit is granted as a rent subsidy for the tenant of an apartment or room or as an encumbrance allowance for the owner of a home or condominium.

You submit your application to the regional housing office. In Jena, the social services department, housing benefit team, is your point of contact.

As an asylum seeker, you will receive what you need for everyday life. Your care is regulated by the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act (AsylbLG). The specialist social services department bears the costs for accommodation and heating.

If you no longer live in shared accommodation or an initial reception center, the social services department will pay the appropriate rent for an apartment, including heating costs and the cost of hot water, but not for electricity.

The following benefits are provided under the AsylbLG:

• Basic benefits for food, accommodation, heating, clothing, personal hygiene, household utensils and consumables
• "Pocket money" for personal needs
• Medical care benefits for the treatment of acute illnesses and pain as well as pregnancy and childbirth
• Other special benefits in individual cases

For single persons, basic benefits amount to 359 euros per month.

Benefits in kind

Benefits in kind are generally possible, however, in Thuringia, priority is no longer given to benefits in kind.

Jena abolished vouchers for asylum seekers years ago. Anyone in Jena who receives benefits in accordance with the AsylbLG generally receives monthly benefits in the form of cash using cash cards. Some asylum seekers, especially those whose procedures have already taken a long time with good prospects of residence, already have their own bank accounts.