Jobseeker in Germany: Report termination to the employment office!

Jobseeker in Germany: Registering your termination with the employment office (Agentur für Arbeit) is a crucial step in securing your financial and legal claims. Regardless of whether the termination came as a surprise or was already on the horizon, the uncertainty often remains. It is therefore all the more important to act quickly and correctly. But when and how should you register with the employment agency as a job seeker or unemployed person after receiving a termination? What deadlines need to be observed and what are the consequences of late registration? This article will tell you everything you need to know about this topic. From the first steps after receiving your notice of termination to how to communicate with the employment office, we will give you all the information and tips you need to protect your rights and get the support you need.

Key points in brief:

• As soon as you know that you will soon be unemployed, you must register as a jobseeker. When you actually no longer have a job, you must register as unemployed.
• You must register at the latest three months before the end of the employment relationship. If you resign at short notice, you must do so within three days of the termination becoming known.
• If you register as a jobseeker too late, you may face periods of suspension in your unemployment benefits.
• You must register at the latest on the first day of your unemployment. Otherwise you will not receive any unemployment benefits.

Why is registering with the employment office important?

After you have received a notice of termination, it is crucial that you register as a jobseeker with the employment office in good time to secure your entitlements and avoid financial disadvantages when you later apply for unemployment benefits. In addition, the employment office will support you in your job search and offer various training programmes that can improve your chances on the labour market. The aim is to ensure that you do not become unemployed in the first place and that you find a new job as quickly as possible.

What is the difference between the employment office, the Federal Employment Agency and the job centre?

The official name for today’s ‘employment office’ is now the Federal Employment Agency, but many people still use the old term. The term ‘employment agency’ is also used synonymously. All three terms mean the same thing. However, there is an important difference between the Federal Employment Agency and the job centre: the Federal Employment Agency is responsible for people who receive unemployment benefits. Those who receive citizen’s income must contact the job centre.

Registering as unemployed after dismissal: differences to registering as a jobseeker

Registering with the employment agency after a dismissal, an termination agreement or before the end of a fixed-term employment contract involves two important steps:

1. Registering as a jobseeker: This registration is required as soon as you know you will be unemployed – for example, after you have received a dismissal.
2. Registering as unemployed: This must be done on the first day of your actual unemployment in order to receive unemployment benefit.

Deadlines for registering with the employment office

But when do these registrations actually have to be made?

• Register as a jobseeker: At least three months before the end of the employment relationship. If you are dismissed at short notice, for example during your probationary period, you must register as a jobseeker within three days of receiving your notice of dismissal.
• as unemployed: You can register as unemployed at the earliest three months before the end of your employment. However, you should do so at the latest on the first day of your unemployment, otherwise you will not receive any unemployment benefit!

If you miss these deadlines, the employment office may impose financial penalties, such as the loss of unemployment benefits for a certain period of time.

How do you register with the employment office?

There are various ways to register with the employment office:

1. Online registration: You can register quickly and easily via the Federal Employment Agency website.
2. Telephone registration: You can also register with the employment office by telephone. The service number is: 0800 4 555500 and is toll-free.
3. Written registration: You can also register in writing.
4. Personal registration: Of course, you can also register in person at the employment office. You can find the employment agency responsible for you using the service centre search. Please take an identification document (ID card or passport and proof of residence) with you.

Please note that you can use any of the listed methods to register as a jobseeker. If, on the other hand, you want to register as unemployed, you can do so in person. Since 2022, it has also been possible to register as unemployed online, so you no longer have to appear in person. However, proof of identity is also required when registering online. This is done by means of an ID card with an online ID function or another electronic proof of identity such as an electronic residence permit, an eID card or an ID card from an EU/EEA member state with an online ID function.

What happens if you report to the employment office late?

If you register late as a jobseeker with the employment agency after being dismissed or even after a termination agreement, this can result in a blocking period for unemployment benefit. In such a case, you will usually not receive unemployment benefit for one week, which means that you will receive less money overall than you would actually be entitled to. Being late in registering as a jobseeker is the most common reason for the imposition of blocking periods. Resigning or accepting a termination agreement can also result in blocking periods for unemployment benefit.

The situation is similar if you report late as unemployed. You only receive unemployment benefit from the time you register as unemployed. Therefore, you will not receive any money if you have not registered with the employment office.

💡Important: Registering as a jobseeker is not the same as registering as unemployed. To receive unemployment benefit, you must also register as unemployed!

What happens after registering with the employment agency?

After registering, you will usually have a personal counselling interview. Your chances of finding employment will be discussed and measures for professional integration will be agreed. You will be invited to counselling interviews on a regular basis and must prove that you are actively seeking new job offers. This also includes regularly submitting proof of application.

Amount and conditions for receiving unemployment benefit

You are always entitled to unemployment benefit if you have been in employment subject to social security contributions for at least twelve months in the last 30 months. You do not have to have worked for twelve months without a break. If this is the case, you will receive unemployment benefit for a minimum of six months and a maximum of two years. This depends on two main criteria: how long you were subject to compulsory insurance and how old you are when you become entitled.

In contrast, the citizen’s income is paid out independently of previous salaries. The basis for calculating your unemployment benefit is your last twelve gross monthly salaries. You can calculate your unemployment benefit on the website of the Federal Employment Agency.

How do you apply for unemployment benefit?

You can apply for unemployment benefit in person or online. Alternatively, you can also call and request that the written application be sent to you. The prerequisite for this is always that you have already registered as unemployed.

To apply for unemployment benefit, you will need several important documents. The necessary documents include:

• Your ID card with your current registered address
• Alternatively, a passport or replacement document together with a current registration certificate
• A certificate of employment to be completed by

Additionally, the employment agency may request further documents in order to process your application in full. These could be, for example:

• The letter of resignation from your employer
• A declaration of termination of the employment relationship if you resigned
• A certificate of receipt of sick pay, if applicable
• A certificate of additional income if you have additional income while unemployed
• Proof of previous benefits, such as the notice of approval or proof of benefits, even if the benefits were received from a different employment agency
• A contribution statement for compulsory unemployment insurance

Make sure you have these documents ready to avoid delays in registering