Important information for recipients of Unemployment Benefit I and II in Germany

From this year, Job Centres in Germany are no longer handling the payment of Unemployment Benefit I and Unemployment Benefit II (so-called “top-up recipients”).

People who claim both Unemployment Benefit I and Unemployment Benefit II will from now on receive all benefits relating to active employment promotion from the Employment Agency that is responsible for them.

Only benefits for securing a livelihood will continue to be paid by Job Centres.

The change means that recipients who want to amend or update their personal information (e.g. new address, starting a job, etc.), can now directly contact their Employment Agency.

If required, the Employment Agency can forward any information on to the Job Centre.

All applications for instance, for refunds of job applications and travel costs will be handled by the Employment Agency.

Automated letters are already being sent to the customers who are affected by this change inviting them to the Employment Agency where everything else will be discussed. Please don’t ignore these automated invitations.

Whoever is affected and needs to clarify any issue can contact their local Employment Agency. All agencies can be contacted by calling a single nationwide Freephone number: 0800 4 5555 00 (Monday to Friday from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.).