Apply for one-time benefits

For one-off benefits, contact your local job center by phone, e-mail or in person. There you will receive further information and an application form, if you need one. Alternatively, you can also apply for the benefits online with the digital application for citizen's allowance.

• Fill out the application form or write a justified informal application, depending on the specifications of your responsible job center.
• Send the application to the job center. In it, you must prove your need. Attach the necessary documents requested by the job center, which prove the need and are required for the examination.
• The job centre will review your application. Evidence from third parties (e.g. your landlord) may be required to check whether you need one-off services. Ultimately, the authority makes a decision on a case-by-case basis. You will then receive a notification from the job centre. There are three possible choices:
  • the application is granted,
  • the application is partially granted,
  • the application is rejected.
• The job centre will pay you the approved amount or send you the benefit in kind (voucher).

If you are able to work and are unlikely to be able to cover your living expenses financially at the moment and in the next 6 months, you can apply for citizen's allowance for one-off benefits as a cash benefit or benefit in kind (voucher). The one-time service must also be necessary. The benefit is then to be used exclusively for what is applied for, i.e. for

• the initial furnishing of the apartment,
• the initial equipment for clothing and initial equipment for pregnancy and childbirth,
• the purchase and repair of orthopedic shoes,
• the repairs of therapeutic devices and equipment, as well as the rental of therapeutic equipment.

• Identity card or passport
• Proof of income
• if necessary:
  • Proof of assets
  • Lease agreement, proof of rent payment or house encumbrances
  • Maternity record or medical certificate of the date of delivery
  • Prescription
  • Quotes

Please ask the job centre responsible for you which documents you need to submit for your case.

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

Submit the application before making the purchases, as one-off benefits are only provided if the need is not yet met.

It may take several weeks to process your application.

Forms available: Depending on the job center
Written form required: No
Informal application possible: Yes
Personal appearance required: No
Online services available: Yes

• Contradiction
• Summary proceedings before the Social Court
• Action before the Social Court

The one-off benefits are provided under the responsibility of the municipal authorities (independent cities and districts). The amount of benefits may therefore vary from region to region.

Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS)

08.03.2023

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.