Unemployment > Unemployment Benefit II > Temporary Additional Benefit

Temporary Additional Benefit to Unemployment Benefit II

Definition, Explanation

Persons who did receive unemployment benefit I and are now receiving unemployment benefit II can receive a temporary additional monthly benefit for 2 years. This is meant to ease the transition from unemployment benefit I to unemployment benefit II. The amount of the additional benefit is calculated as 2/3 of the difference of the benefits one received before and the new benefits. The benefits received before are unemployment benefit I, possibly plus rent support, and the new benefits are either unemployment benefit II or social money plus supports for rent and heating. Legal basis for the additional benefit is § 24 of the Sozialgesetzbuch Zweites Buch (SGB II).

A person is entitled to receive the temporal additional benefit if the person:

• is receiving benefits that are part of the unemployment II package
• is not receiving unemployment benefit I in parallel
• did receive unemployment benefit I before the unemployment benefit II
• is living in a household-unit in need of support whose overall benefit amount received is decreased by the change from unemployment benefit I plus rent money to unemployment benefit II and social money plus rent and heating support

The first year's additional benefit amount is limited to

• a maximum of € 160 for single employment-capable persons in need of support
• a maximum of € 320 for partners not living separated
• a maximum of € 60 for every minor-aged child that lives in a household-unit in need of support with the person

After the first year has passed, the additional benefit amounts to a half of the above, that is, maximum € 80 for a single, € 160 for partners and € 30 per child.

Example single:

Before unemployment benefit I: € 1,100

Unemployment benefit II + support for accommodation: € 645

Difference: € 455

Temporary additional benefit: 2/3 of € 455 = € 303.33

Maximum limit: € 160

So, although the amount of the additional benefit is 303.33 according to the first pat of the calculation, the maximum limit cuts it at € 160 in the first year, and to € 80 in the second year.

Example married couple, with no children:

Before unemployment benefit I + rent money: € 1,200 + € 100 = € 1,300

Unemployment benefit II + rent: 2 * € 323 + € 381 = € 1,027

Difference: € 273

Temporary additional benefit: 2/3 of € 273 = € 182

Maximum limit: € 320

In this case, the household-unit in need with a married couple receives a temporary additional benefit amounting to € 182 in the first year, and € 91 in the second year.

There is no additional benefit received if the unemployment benefit II amounts are higher than the benefits received before, including unemployment benefit I and rent money.

Tips, Checklist

• As soon as one member of a household-unit in need moves out, there will be adjustments not only of the unemployment benefit II and the social money, but also of the temporary additional benefit
• If you live together with your partner who receives unemployment benefit II as well, you should separately apply for everyone's temporary additional benefit
• Social security benefits are in principle not distrainable
• Attention: In case of a sanction, this additional benefit will cease for the respective time-period
• Be sure to apply for unemployment benefit II immediately when your unemployment benefit I has ended. If there is any time in between your receiving of unemployment benefit I and II, even if it is employment with no obligation to social insurance contributions, that will decrease the number of months in which the temporary additional benefit to unemployment benefit II is received, while it is 24 months in the first place
• The additional benefit is only received by persons who are entitled to receive unemployment benefit II
• Receivers of child benefits do not receive the temporary additional benefit to unemployment benefit II. Therefore, check and decide, whether it is better for you to let go of the child benefits and apply for the additional benefit instead

Last update: 12/16/2009