Agentur für Arbeit

In this article I will detail the institution called Agentur für Arbeit and also a little about the Jobcenter. This article is important for everyone who lives and works in Germany due to the fact that I explain your entitlement regarding the Arbeitslosengeld (Unemployment benefits).?

Agentur für Arbeit is considered a well-known institution in Germany and every salaried employee should know how it operates. Unlike the Ausl?nderbeh?rde which is mostly known by immigrants in Germany. Want to know more about the Ausl?nderbeh?rde? Read my next article ?- die Ausl?nderbeh?rde.

But what happens in case you lost your job during the first six months during the probation time (probezeit)? Or your employer didn't extend your work contract after one or two years? (always remember that after a maximum of two years a company in Germany has to decide whether to give you a permanent contract or not to extend your existing employment contract). In that case you will have to go to the offices of the Agentur für Arbeit?(also known as Bundesagentur für Arbeit) in order to be able to receive Arbeitslosengeld (Unemployment benefits)

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Here are the conditions in order for you to receive Arbeitslosengeld:

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If you have worked as a?salaried employee for at least twelve months within the last 30 months (total time period), then you are eligible to receive it. You will then receive Arbeitslosengeld for a maximum of twelve months. In total, you must have completed at least 12 months of insurance periods together with employment that requires insurance?(part of your salary slips of course) in order to fulfill the qualifying period.

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In case you do not have a child, 60 percent of your benefit salary is the amount you receive every month as unemployment benefit. This amount increases to 67 percent if you or your spouse/partner have at least one child.?

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With a quick search on the internet under the phrase "Arbeitslosengeld Berechnen" you will find many calculators that can calculate exactly how much Arbeitslosengeld you are entitled to receive depending on your city of residence in Germany, your gross monthly or annual income, the type of Steuerklasse (Tax class) that you have and also according to your personal situation?(in case you have children or do you not have children)

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In Germany, a distinction is made between unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld also known as ALG) and citizen's benefit/money (Bürgergeld). Unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld) is an unemployment insurance benefit, financed from unemployment insurance payments, while citizen's benefit/money (Bürgergeld), on the other hand, is a basic state security that is intended to ensure the minimum subsistence level.

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The institution responsible for Arbeitslosengeld is the Agentur für Arbeit (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) and the institution responsible for Bürgergeld is the Jobcenter.?

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As an immigrant you must avoid getting into a situation where you have to receive Bürgergeld because this situation could delay your immigration process because in this situation you are actually showing the authorities in Germany that you cannot reach a stable financial situation. This is a situation where people need the money because they cannot pay basic things such as rent.?

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In many cases, people who finish the 12 months of the Arbeitslosengeld if they have not found a job, they can get into a situation where they go to the Jobcenter and ask for Bürgergeld. There is no reason in the world that as an immigrant in Germany you would end up in this situation and I also recommend that you avoid it.?

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Remember that the Arbeitslosengeld will not delay you in the immigration process as long as you find a new job again or a new source of income. The Bürgergeld will hold you back because it shows that you cannot support yourself.

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In Berlin, there are many offices of the Agentur für Arbeit and in case you want to receive Arbeitslosengeld, you will have to go to the office of the Agentur für Arbeit located in the neighborhood where your address is registered. For example, if you live in the area of Neuk?lln in Berlin, you should go to the Agentur für Arbeit office located in Neuk?lln and not in another neighborhood.

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I will explain how the process of receiving the Arbeitslosengeld takes place. You must first remember that before leaving your workplace/company you must take with you a document that indicates the end of your employment with the company as a salaried employee. Such as a dismissal letter or alternatively a mutual agreement letter (Aufhebungsvertrag).?

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In case you wish to end your work on your own initiative, you will have to find out first if you have a kündigungsfrist (notice period), so in case you wish to leave/resign from your position you need to announce your company before according to your notice period. So, for example you have a notice period of one month, you will then let your company know that you wish to resign and then after one month you will be officially out of your job.?

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In the second step you will have to take the letter of the document that indicates the end of your employment with your company to the office of the Agentur für Arbeit located in your neighborhood?(according to your address) and approach one of the?clerks at the reception offices.?

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It is important to remember that from the moment you receive the letter, you must arrive physically (there is no need to make an appointment in advance) to the Agentur für Arbeit?office?(located in your area according to your address) as soon as possible (recommended no later than three business days) so that they will be able to handle your request without delay and also so that you can receive the?Arbeitslosengeld?on time.

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The clerk will provide you a username and password with which you can then enter the website - https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/bea or alternatively use an application called authenticator arbeitsamt or TOPT authenticator.

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In order to be able to use the online application via smartphone, you will need to scan a QR code that will also be given to you by the clerk. You can then log in with your username and password and choose the "Arbeitslosengeld" option and then choose the "Arbeitslosengeld beantragen" option. In case you already created an account previously, just login to your account and from the Menu icon option (located top right) choose eServices (Online Services) and then choose the "Arbeitslosengeld beantragen" option.

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You will have to fill in the details online until you reach the section of your bank details and then you will not be able to continue because you will have to order a PIN code through the website called "PIN für die eServices der Bundesagentur für Arbeit". The code will be sent to you by post mail after about three business days, and only then you can continue to complete your bank details and answer other questions such as what is your personal situation? Why did you have to leave your job? Have you tried talking to your workplace/company so you will be able to stay in the company??

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These questions are designed to see if it is possible to keep your job (it is important to note that salaried employees' rights in Germany are very important and therefore from the point of view of the Agentur für Arbeit, you must do everything to keep your job). Filling out this online form (also known as Arbeitsbescheinigung) is necessary and its filling procedure will take you between one and a half to two hours because it consists of many questions.

In case for some reason you have more questions regarding the procedure of the online application, you can dial the following number +49800 4 555501 (free of charge). This service is available Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00

At the same time, your?workplace/company also needs to fill out an Arbeitsbescheinigung from its side and only after both parties have filled out the questionnaire in full, will you receive a confirmation letter from the Agentur für Arbeit that the questionnaire has been filled out in full and then you will actually be entitled to receive the Arbeitslosengeld at the date you are aiming for according to the letter of the document that indicates the end of your employment with your company.?

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It is very important to note that if your workplace does not fill out the form from its side, you will not be entitled to receive the Arbeitslosengeld, so I always?recommend that you remind your workplace to fill out the form ahead of time. In addition, the Agentur für Arbeit will coordinate an interview meeting with a?clerk?from the Agentur für Arbeit where he can assess your current situation and assist you if you have additional questions.

In case you lose your job in Germany for any reason or you chose to leave your job of your own free will, I recommend that you to apply for Arbeitslosengeld at the Agentur für Arbeit and therefore, you will still be entitled to receive medical services (as long as you are a salaried employee you are actually covered by your health insurance, this is shown on your salary slip) so when you receive Arbeitslosengeld you will still be entitled for health insurance as well.?

In case you start a new job not at the beginning of a month but in the middle of the month, let's say on the 15th of the month or even before, let's say the 10th of the month, you may not receive Arbeitslosengeld between the first date of that month and between the date you start the new job in the middle of the month, let's say the 10th of the month.

The reason for that is because according to the Agentur für Arbeit the default is in case you have started a new job, then you are entitled to that month's salary in any case in?that?specific?month (so they usually do not calculate the missing dates). So, in case you still want to receive?Arbeitslosengeld?(between those missing dates)?you will have to file an appeal?(widerspruch)?and?ask for the difference of the Arbeitslosengeld until the date you started the work.?

You can do so by writing an email to the?Agentur für Arbeit?or just write a letter and explain that you would like to receive the?Arbeitslosengeld?for those missing dates. Do not forget to sign the letter and to put it inside the Hauptbriefkasse (main mailbox) of the?Agentur für Arbeit.