Job center questions: rights and obligations when visiting

Content

• When is the job center responsible?
• What are the requirements for receiving ALG 2?
• What is a means test?
• What job center obligations do applicants have?
• Provide truthful information
• Accept reasonable work
• Keep all appointments
• What job center rights do applicants have?
• Right to regular performance
• Right to one-off benefits
• Right to integration support
• Right to be absent
• Right to reimbursement
• Right to written notices
• Right to inspect files
• Right to object
• Practical information for an appointment at the job center
• Attendance certificate
• Inclusion agreement
• Request
• Information
• supervisor
• Accompaniment

For many, a visit to the job center is just as enjoyable as a visit to the dentist. It smells of bureaucracy, there are applications, rights and obligations - and even more questions. We will guide you through there! In the following we answer the most important job center questions and show you what rights and obligations applicants have. There are also practical tips for visiting the job center ...

When is the job center responsible?

Among other things, the job center takes care of the basic security of job seekers. Means: You will receive unemployment benefit 2 (also "ALG 2" or "Hartz IV") from the job center if you are no longer entitled to unemployment benefit 1 ("ALG 1" for short). The ALG 2 is intended to enable the recipients to lead a decent life. However, it must in no way serve the purpose of enrichment.

What are the requirements for receiving ALG 2?

• Applicants must be at least 15 years old.
• Applicants must be able to work.
• The applicants must be in need of help.
• The applicants must have their center of life in Germany.

Who meets these requirements, is generally entitled to apply for the service.

What is a means test?

Since the funds of the job center are financed half from federal taxes (employment agency) and half from local taxes (and not from unemployment insurance as with ALG 1), a "means test" is carried out for each applicant. All financial sources are included for this purpose:

• Own income
• Own wealth
• Income and assets of people living in the household (partner, parents, siblings)

Main task of the job center however, it is the placement of the "customers" in a new job. Anyone who is unemployed should have unlimited benefits. Therefore, the benefit recipients of ALG 2 are imposed some obligations. Those who fail to meet these obligations face temporary reductions in benefits of up to 30 percent - the so-called sanctions.

What job center obligations do applicants have?

The duties of applicants in the job center are stricter and more extensive than when receiving unemployment benefit 1. This is mainly due to the fact that the job center service - theoretically - can be obtained indefinitely. To prevent this, the beneficiaries should be placed in a job as quickly as possible. This also includes jobs that are not enough to make a living, but at least help to save some services ("top-ups").

When you submit an application to the job centeryou have the following obligations:

• Provide truthful information

  You are obliged to disclose your financial situation and that of the people who live with you in the same household (“community of needs”). This includes income and assets. Taking into account the exemptions, a check is then made to determine whether you are entitled to a payment for the benefit.

• Accept reasonable work

  The job center duties also include accepting any job that fits your qualifications and is psychologically and physically reasonable. This also includes long commutes to work. What fits your "qualification" can be interpreted generously. A trained forest scientist, for example, can be used as a gardener. In addition, applicants are required to provide evidence of their regular application activities.

• Keep all appointments

  Beneficiaries are also obliged to appear punctually at all job center appointments. This applies to meetings with the clerk as well as external appointments such as job interviews or medical examinations. If you cannot show up for health reasons, you have to prove this with a certificate. Otherwise, you risk penalties and cuts in benefits.

  
  

What job center rights do applicants have?

In addition to the obligations, beneficiaries also have a number of rights at the job center. You should know these here:

• Right to regular performance

  Job center customers are entitled to the job center paying them the agreed services on time. This includes the statutory standard rate, rent payments and heating as well as additional claims for additional needs (e.g. for single parents or people with disabilities) after a case-by-case examination. Usually the total amount will be transferred to your account. In individual cases, this can also be benefits in kind or vouchers.

• Right to one-off benefits

  The rights also include the job center checking whether you are entitled to other one-off benefits in addition to the standard benefit. For example, when moving to a smaller apartment, this can be the initial equipment of a basic facility or the initial supply of clothing.

• Right to integration support

  You are also entitled to help with integration into the labor market. This applies to job placement as well as other accompanying measures - for example further training, psychosocial care, child care, debt counseling or the like. All measures are determined by mutual agreement in an integration agreement.

• Right to be absent

  You are entitled to up to six weeks of vacation per year. In the jargon of the job center this is called "absence from location". As in an employment relationship, you should submit the vacation request as early as possible. Preferably 4-6 weeks in advance.

• Right to reimbursement

  Beneficiaries have the right to reimbursement of all costs related to their application activities. This applies to letter, postage and travel costs. Of course, you must provide proof of these expenses with receipts.

• Right to written notices

  You have the right to receive a written notification of every grant or refusal of benefits. So, for reasons of proof, do not be fobbed off with verbal statements. Otherwise a later contradiction will be difficult.

• Right to inspect files

  You have the right to inspect your files at the job center at any time. You should use the right regularly. After several weeks it is difficult to have an incorrect entry corrected, as it is hardly possible to provide evidence.

• Right to object

  Beneficiaries have the right to object to any decision made by the job center - in particular to sanctions or incorrect calculations. Every contradiction has suspensive effect. However, only use this right if there is really a misconduct and get legal support from reputable consultants.

Practical information for an appointment at the job center

When a job center visit is imminent, you should know your rights and obligations. In addition, there are other tips that you should keep in mind:

• Attendance certificate

  Have every job center visit confirmed with a signature and stamp. In this way, you can better clear up later errors and refute false claims. It is not the rule that a perceived appointment appears in the file as "missed". But it can happen.

• Inclusion agreement

  The inclusion agreement is just that: an agreement. It therefore requires your consent and is not an administrative decree. Means: You can negotiate about this with your clerk. Should an inclusion agreement be issued over your head, it is contestable. Nor can you be forced to sign them. So give yourself a few days to think about it.

• Request

  Every benefit that you apply for should be presented in writing. Only then will a binding notification be issued. If you inquire verbally without obligation, it is possible that a legitimate claim will be dismissed prematurely. Likewise, you do not have to accept vouchers and benefits in kind in every case. The rent must also be transferred directly to your account and not to that of the landlord. You should apply for all of this in writing. If necessary, request a confirmation of receipt.

• Information

  Only give the bare minimums at the appointment. Focus on the case handler's questions. Chatting is dangerous. The employees at the job center are not subject to any confidentiality. So you do not know what will be gossiped or will end up in your file.

• supervisor

  In the event that your clerk refuses you justified services, you always have the right to speak to his superior. This announcement alone often brings movement into the negotiation.

• Accompaniment

  If possible, go with someone to the job center. In addition to moral support, this has advantages, especially in terms of the burden of proof. You have a potential witness by your side. Important information can be misunderstood or written down incorrectly.