Applying for a loan or need grant for training

You will need to apply for a loan or grant. The application can be submitted informally. Alternatively, you can also submit an application using the online application for the Citizens' Allowance.

• Find out more about the application process at the job centre responsible for your place of residence.
• Benefits for additional needs must be applied for. Application forms are available for this purpose, which you can pick up at the Jobcenter or have sent to you. The forms can also be found on the Internet.
• To apply for a loan, a hardship grant or initial equipment for pregnancy and childbirth, your responsible job centre may use a separate application form. Your job centre will tell you which documents you need to submit for your specific case.
• Fill out the application form.
• If you are not yet of legal age, have a person with parental authority sign the application.
• The Jobcenter will review your application.
• The Jobcenter will check your assets and income.
• The Jobcenter makes a decision on a case-by-case basis.
  • Hardship grant: Whether the requirements for a subsidy are met is decided by the responsible placement specialist.
• You will receive a notification as to whether your application has been approved or rejected.
• If you are granted a loan, the Jobcenter will agree with you when and how you will repay the money.

You can find the job centre responsible for you via the service finder on the website of the Federal Employment Agency.

You can find the job centre responsible for you via the service finder on the website of the Federal Employment Agency.

If you are in a financial emergency situation at the beginning or during your training, you can apply for benefits for apprentices. The following applies:

General

• As a trainee, you are not entitled to social benefits such as citizens' allowance and
• You are in a financial emergency situation and
• You can't support yourself.

As a rule, the following can benefit from the above-mentioned services:

• • Students who do not live with their parents
  • Trainees who have reached the statutory BAföG retirement age
  • Trainees in vocational training or pre-vocational training who are accommodated with full board
    • in a boarding school or
    • in a dormitory.
• Trainees with disabilities who are entitled to training allowance, for example during vocational training, pre-vocational training or basic training, and who are accommodated
  • in a boarding school,
  • in a dormitory or
  • in a special facility for people with disabilities,

if the costs for accommodation and meals are covered by the Employment Agency or another service provider.

Loans in general

• Without a loan, the start of your education or its successful completion would be jeopardized for financial reasons.

Hardship loans

• You are not able to earn extra money through a part-time job, for example because:
  • you are a single parent, or
  • You have a disability, or
  • you are caring for a relative, or
  • your residence permit in Germany does not allow it.
• You can be classified as a hardship case if extraordinary, serious circumstances jeopardize your education and/or you find yourself in an emergency situation that threatens your existence.

Hardship subsidy

• You are at least 45 years old and can therefore no longer receive BAföG due to your age and
• You are in school-based training, without which your professional integration is seriously jeopardized, but you are not studying.
• You can be classified as a hardship case if extraordinary, serious circumstances jeopardize your education and/or you find yourself in an emergency situation that threatens your existence.

• Applications forms:
  • The application for benefits for trainees and students according to § 27 SGB II can be submitted informally. In principle, it is submitted with the main application ("Application for benefits to secure subsistence according to the Second Book of the Social Code (SGB II)"). However, in order for the Jobcenter to be able to obtain the information of the applicants that it needs to check the entitlement to benefits and, if applicable, its amount, the Jobcenter may provide its own forms.
• Valid identity document:
  • Identity card or
  • Valid passport with current registration certificate
  • Residence permit
• Proof of income, such as a salary statement or current bank statements (e.g. pensions, sickness benefit, child benefit, alimony, maintenance advance, training allowance, BAföG)
• Proof of training or studies (e.g. training or certificate of enrolment)
• Proof of existing assets (e.g. savings, shares, securities, building savings contracts)
• Proof of expenses, for example by submitting bank statements (or, for example, rental agreement, rent receipts, heating costs, insurance contribution documents)
• Proof of previous receipt of benefits, also at another job centre (notification of approval, proof of achievement)

You don't have to pay any costs if you have an account. If you do not have an account, you will receive a payment instruction to offset for a cash payment (ZzV-Bar). That's a check. However, this will incur costs that will be deducted directly from the benefit to which you are entitled. Since the amount of the costs for the payment order can vary, please contact your local job centre for more information. You can have the cheque paid out in cash. Payments are made exclusively through Postbank branches. The ZzV-Bar is a means of payment provided by Postbank AG, the use of which has been agreed separately between the Federal Employment Agency and Postbank.

There is no deadline. However, the benefits are only granted from the first day of the month in which you submitted the application.

Therefore, make sure that you apply as soon as possible when you become aware of your financial need or announce it, and not after the fact.

Forms available: Yes
Written form required: No
Informal application possible: Yes
Personal appearance required: No
Online services available: Yes

• Contradiction
• Summary proceedings before the Social Court
• Appeal to the Social Court

Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS)

08.03.2023

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.