Germany-en Archives - Page 4 of 5

Family allowances

Are you a EU citizen, live in Germany and have children under the age of 18 or 25 living in your household? Then you are basically entitled to child benefit.

Child benefit is paid for children – regardless of their nationality – if they are resident or habitually resident in Germany. The same applies if the children live in a member state of the European Union or the European Economic Area or in Switzerland.

The following are considered children in terms of child benefit:

physical and adopted children,
children of the spouse or partner,
foster children

For the first and second child the child benefit is 204 euros, for the third child 210 euros and for each additional child 235 euros.

Children under the age of 18 are entitled to child benefit. If your children are older than 18, but under 25, you are only entitled to child benefit if the child is undergoing initial vocational training. This vocational training can take place in school, university or in a company.

Documents for download

The application form can be downloaded from:

Antrag auf Kindergeld:
https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/datei/kg1-antrag-kindergeld_ba017202.pdf

Anlage Kind:
https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/datei/kg1-anlagekind_ba013117.pdf

Anlage Ausland:
https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/datei/kg51-anlageausland_ba013122.pdf

A comprehensive collection of forms in various languages can be downloaded from:

Formulare zum Kindergeld:
https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/familie-und-kinder/downloads-kindergeld-kinderzuschlag

Further information

Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Familienkasse, Merkblatt Kindergeld:
https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/datei/KG2-MerkblattKindergeld_ba015394.pdf

Familienkasse:
http://www.familienkasse.de
https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/familie-und-kinder

September 24, 2020/by FMD

Germany-en

Unemployment allowances

There are two types of state support for unemployment: Unemployment benefit I (ALG I) is the main benefit of unemployment insurance and is intended to help prevent financial emergencies in the event of unemployment. The unemployment benefit II (also ALG 2, ALG II) – mostly called Hartz IV – is the basic security for employable people in need of help called “Hartz IV”.

Unemployment benefit I, also called ALG 1 or ALG for short, is the main benefit of unemployment insurance. It is intended to help prevent financial emergencies in the event of unemployment and is paid for three to at most 24 months, depending on the qualifying period and age.

Unemployment then exists

if there is actually no employment or employment of less than 15 hours per week (unemployment),
when actively looking for socially insured employment to end unemployment (personal efforts),
if placement efforts of the employment agency can and should be followed (availability).

The amount of unemployment benefit is based on the wages received in the 12 months prior to the application. Unemployed people with children receive 67%, unemployed people without children receive 60% of a flat-rate net salary. The maximum duration of receiving unemployment benefit I varies from 6 to 12 months. For older workers over 50 years of age, the reference period increases to up to 24 months.

Sources: https://www.dgb.de/themen/++co++4f82db0c-fca4-11df-7cf4-00188b4dc422
https://www.bmas.de/DE/Themen/Arbeitsmarkt/Arbeitslosengeld/arbeitslosengeld.html

Unemployment benefit II (ALG II) is the lowest social network that is designed to ensure the livelihood of everyone who can work. Colloquially, the ALG II – or ALG 2 – “Hartz IV” is called.

ALG II is provided to all persons who are at least 15 years old and have not yet reached the retirement age if they are employable and in need of help. If a person fulfills these conditions, the partner and the children also receive benefits – even if they are not able to work themselves. Only persons who are habitually resident in the Federal Republic of Germany are entitled to benefits. Special restrictions apply to people without a German passport and to people undergoing training. Union citizens who came to Germany to look for work are not entitled to unemployment benefit II in the first three months. The situation is different if EU citizens have been employed in Germany for more than half a year or one year.

Sources: https://www.dgb.de/themen/++co++4f82db0c-fca4-11df-7cf4-00188b4dc422
https://www.bmas.de/DE/Themen/Arbeitsmarkt/Arbeitslosengeld/arbeitslosengeld.html

Documents for download

Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Merkblatt 1:
https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/datei/merkblatt-fuer-arbeitslose_ba015368.pdf

DGB, Hartz IV, Tipps und Hilfe vom DGB:
https://dgb-shop.bw-h.de/media/products/0230958001581059788.pdf?MODsid=nepaf63jncdrimb1990adrcob7

Further information

Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Merkblatt 1:
https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/datei/merkblatt-fuer-arbeitslose_ba015368.pdf

Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Beantragung von Arbeitslosengeld:
https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/arbeitslosengeld/so-beantragen-sie-arbeitslosengeld

DGB, Hartz IV, Tipps und Hilfe vom DGB:
https://dgb-shop.bw-h.de/media/products/0230958001581059788.pdf?MODsid=nepaf63jncdrimb1990adrcob7

September 24, 2020/by FMD

Germany-en

Old age and survivor pensions

Germany has a highly developed welfare state. The principle of the welfare state is unchangeable in the Basic Law. The welfare state is therefore an obligation for politics. The state should secure the livelihoods of its citizens (social security) and ensure a balance between the socially weak and the socially strong (social justice). By securing old age and the most important life risks – such as illness, long-term care, unemployment – the rule of law is implemented.

Statutory social insurance is an essential element of the welfare state. Among them, the statutory pension insurance (GRV) is the largest social security system in the Federal Republic. In its current form, it emerged in many reform steps from the law on disability and old-age insurance passed by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck in 1889. In its long history, the benefits of the statutory pension insurance have developed from a mere allowance for general living requirements to the essential basis for a financially secure age.

Statutory pension insurance is the largest social security system in the Federal Republic and is fundamentally designed as a compulsory insurance for employees. In addition, certain groups of self-employed and other groups of people are compulsorily insured. For most people not subject to compulsory insurance, the statutory pension insurance offers the option of voluntary insurance or, for self-employed persons who are not subject to compulsory insurance, the compulsory insurance upon application.

Source: https://www.bmas.de/DE/Themen/Rente/Gesetzliche-Rentenversicherung/gesetzliche-rentenversicherung-art.html

Insured persons who have reached the normal retirement age (65 to 67 years) and who have fulfilled the general waiting period of five years are entitled to the regular old-age pension.
Employees who are only able to work for a few hours a day due to health reasons can apply for a pension due to their reduced ability to work.
The statutory pension insurance not only offers protection to the insured in old age or in the event of reduced earning capacity, it also has the task of compensating their surviving dependents for missing maintenance in the form of survivor’s pensions in the event of death.
If the ability to work is at risk or already impaired due to health reasons, insured persons can receive medical and occupational rehabilitation benefits from their responsible pension insurance institution.

Source: https://www.bmas.de/DE/Themen/Rente/Gesetzliche-Rentenversicherung/Leistungen/leistungen.html

More information

Deutsche Sozialversicherung, Europavertretung:
https://dsv-europa.de/de/news.html

Deutsche Rentenversicherung:
https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Home/home_node.html

Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales, Ratgeber zur Rente:
https://www.bmas.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/PDF-Publikationen/a815-ratgeber-zur-rente-258.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=6

September 24, 2020/by FMD

Germany-en

Welfare

September 24, 2020/by FMD

Germany-en

Taxes

The most important tax for employees in Germany is income tax. You pay income tax on all income in a calendar year – for you this will most likely be primarily income from employment. If you work for a company as an employee, you do not have to worry about income tax. Because your employer will automatically deduct income tax in the form of wage tax from your gross wages every month and transfer it to the tax office for you.

Your employer also transfers the solidarity surcharge to the tax office and – if you are a member of a religious community that collects church tax – also the church tax.

In addition, he has already deducted pension, health, nursing and unemployment insurance from your wages and paid. You can see how much your employer transfers to you and what your net salary is every month on your wages and salary slips.

After the end of a calendar year, you can have the state check whether you have paid too much wage or income tax. To do this, submit your income tax return to the tax office. The state can then use your information about the actual income and financial burdens to check whether you are entitled to a refund. It is generally worthwhile to fill out the tax return form: According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, nine out of ten taxpayers have received a repayment. On average, they got back almost 900 euros.

There are expenses that can reduce your tax burden. You also state this in the income tax return. These include, for example:

Expenses for a job-related move, also from abroad
Costs for applications from abroad
Expenses for trips to work
Private pension costs

Source: Make it in Germany – Einstandssteuer

The amount of income tax is not just based on income. The family situation is also taken into account when determining the taxable income. In order to be able to take this into account for the current month, not only after the end of the year, all taxpayers are divided into different wage tax classes:

Tax class 1: If you are single and you do not have to pay the tax relief for single parents, you fall into tax class 1. The same applies to spouses or life partners and divorces who live permanently apart.
Tax class 2: This class applies to single parents who are entitled to the relief amount for single parents.
Tax class 3: Married or partnered employees can choose this tax class if a spouse or life partner is not working or earns significantly less. The other spouse or life partner is then classified in tax class 5.
Tax class 4: If both spouses or life partners earn approximately the same amount, this tax class combination is cheaper.
Tax class 4 with a factor: Married or partnered employees can apply for the entry of a factor annually. This takes into account the income tax that is likely to be paid jointly according to the splitting procedure. The monthly wage tax deduction then almost corresponds to the expected annual tax liability of the spouse or life partner.
Tax class 5: Married or partnered employees whose spouse or life partner is classified in tax class 3 are classified in this income tax class.
Tax class 6: It applies to everyone who has a second or further employment.

Source: Make it in Germany – Steuererleichterung

Further information

Make it in Germany – Deutsche Einkommensteuer

September 24, 2020/by FMD

Germany-en

Traineeship and apprenticeship

“German vocational training enjoys an excellent international reputation. According to many experts, it is the reason for the comparatively low youth unemployment in Germany. More and more young people choose to study after school and many current educational debates revolve around the university as a place of education. However, more than half of the people still start a classic dual vocational training and the majority of the German working population did not study, but acquired a vocational qualification. ”

Source: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung – Duale Berufsausbildung

“The more than 300 dual apprenticeships in Germany offer young people individual career opportunities – and a solid livelihood.”

The majority of 15- to 24-year-olds complete dual vocational training
90% of the trainees successfully complete their dual training
68% of trainees are taken on by their training company
3% of all vocational training graduates are in work

Source: BIBB – GOVET

The German dual vocational training system is based on several principles:

Around 300 professions are defined by federal law; a degree in these professions is recognized throughout Germany.
Vocational training generally takes place at two locations: in the training company and in the state vocational school.
The training contract is concluded with a company and checked and confirmed by the responsible body (chamber). Vocational training is therefore subject to market events (training market). A successful application for the training position is necessary.
Vocational training lasts between two and three and a half years.

The trainee receives a monthly training allowance.

What documents do you need for a successful application for a training position?

School reports
Complete and current CV
Application letter

How can you search for an apprenticeship position?

You should inform yourself about apprenticeships. Many instruments are available online for this.
Sometimes it is good to do an internship before making a training decision. This will help you find out whether it is the right job for you.
You should inform yourself about the current training market.

You should definitely get good advice and support, for example with:
Jugendmigrationsdienste

Further information

Bundesregierung – Make it in Germany

Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB) – GOVET

German Office for International Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training (GOVET)

Federal Ministry für Economic Affairs and Energy – Dual vocational training

Kultusministerkonferenz – Duale Berufsausbildung

Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (BpB) – Dual vocational education

Alliance for Initial and Further Training

Bundesagentur für Arbeit – Ausbildungswege im Überblick

Bundesagentur für Arbeit – BerufeNet

ausbildung.de

Datenreport zum Berufsbildungsbericht 2020 (Vorabversion)

Video:

Dual VET – Vocational Education and Training in Germany

September 24, 2020/by FMD

Germany-en

Research

September 24, 2020/by FMD

Germany-en

Business and entrepreneurship

September 24, 2020/by FMD

Germany-en

Subordinate work

If you already have an employment contract, your employer will help you to complete the necessary formalities.
If you are looking for a job, there are a variety of information portals that can help you even before you enter Germany.

If you are looking for a job

EURES promotes the mobility of jobseekers within Europe through advice and placement. The offer ranges from Europe-wide vacancies, EU funding programs, information on living and working conditions as well as contact details for EURES advisers.

The Federal Employment Agency offers Germany’s largest online job portal.

At the JOBBÖRSE of the Federal Employment Agency, you can store your personal applicant profile in a closed area so that German employers can become aware of you and, if interested, contact you directly. Select targeted job offers tailored to your qualifications and interests. The job offers are updated daily for you, but they often appear in German.

You can also use the JOBBÖRSE as an app.

You can find detailed information about various professional fields on the BERUFENET website of the Federal Employment Agency.

“Hotline Working and Living in Germany” is a range of advice tailored to specialists from abroad. For personal advice, you can reach this service in German and English by chat, by e-mail [make-it-in-germany(at)arbeitsagentur.de] or via the hotline at +49 30 1815 – 1111.

Job portals and company websites: Many companies also publish their vacancies on their company websites. It is best to search under the key words “job offers”, “career” or “vacancies”.

Source: Make it in Germany – Jobinformationen für EU-Bürger
Source: Make it in Germany – Jobsuche

If you already live in Germany and are looking for a job:

Newspapers: Many newspapers publish national but also regional job advertisements in their weekend editions.

Employment Agency: The job of the Employment Agency is to support people in their job search. You can get free advice on site in almost all German cities. The employment agencies are branches of the Federal Employment Agency.

Talent profile: Get active and publish your personal profile online in the various business networks, the JOBBÖRSE of the Federal Employment Agency or other job portals. Interested companies will become aware of you and can contact you directly.

Job fairs: You can also visit specialist and job fairs or congresses, where there is always the opportunity to talk to company and company representatives.

Recruitment agencies: Private recruitment agencies offer another alternative to job search. They are looking for a suitable position for you. Inquire in advance whether fees will apply if you want to use the service of a private placement agency.

Family and friends: Friends and family support us in life so often. Tell your friends and family about your desire to live and work in Germany. Perhaps someone you know has an interesting contact or a good tip for you.

Source: Make it in Germany – Jobinformationen für EU-Bürger
Source: Make it in Germany – Jobsuche

If you already have an employment contract

If you already have an employment contract, your employer will help you to complete the necessary formalities. You should have:

Valid identity card (ID card) or passport
Complete and current resume
School certificates, general and vocational qualifications and certificates
If necessary, job references and letters of recommendation

Your future employer will support you in the following:

Checking and signing the employment contract
Registration with a statutory health insurance company
Registration with social security (done by the employer)
Health examination
Procurement of further documents if necessary

Further information

The European Portal on work mobility (EURES):
Das Europäische Portal zur beruflichen Mobilität (EURES)

The Employment Agency:
Die Agentur für Arbeit

Make it in Germany.
The Federal Government’s Portal for professionals:
Make it in Germany

Job market of the Employment agency:
Die Jobbörse der Agentur für Arbeit

BerufeNet – the detailed information about professions and vocations proposed by the Employment agency:
Das BerufeNet – die Berufsinformationen der Agentur für Arbeit

September 24, 2020/by FMD

Germany-en

Job

September 24, 2020/by FMD