Hartz IV: How the unemployed apply for the money - and what documents are required

Created: 11/25/2022, 07:00

Hartz IV is money from the state that supports you when unemployment benefits are no longer effective.

Here's how to get it.

The Hart IV application is anything but easy to fill out for two reasons.

On the one hand, it's an uncomfortable situation that is often associated with shame and sadness, on the other hand, it's a lot of paperwork that you don't want to make any mistakes with.

However, if you approach the application step by step, you will notice that it is by no means rocket science.

You should know these things if you want to apply for Hartz IV, which will be called citizen income in the future.

Hartz IV application (symbol image) © Lobeca/Felix Schlikis/Imago

Apply for Hartz IV: where and when?

Report to the job center in good time

Anyone who has been employed for at least 12 months and has paid into unemployment insurance can receive unemployment benefit I from the Employment Agency for up to 6 months.

However, when this period has expired, there is a new contact person.

After unemployment benefit 1 comes unemployment benefit 2, also known as Hartz IV, which you have to apply for at a job center.

In principle, anyone who is able to work and in need of assistance between the ages of 15 and 65 with their habitual residence in Germany can apply for Hartz IV if they are unable to secure their own livelihood adequately.

It is important to take care of this early on.

Hartz IV can be paid retrospectively, but only for the month in which the application was made.

So if you register on August 31st, you are entitled from August 1st.

On the other hand, if you do not report until September 1st, you only have a claim from September 1st.

Anyone who is unable to fill out the entire application in paper form or online before the end of the month can first contact the job center informally in person, by telephone, letter or e-mail and then submit the detailed application later.

The date of the first notification is important for the claim.

Tip: Have the submission of the application confirmed, informally and completely, if possible, so that you really have the registration date in writing.

Which papers: What is necessary for a Hartz IV application?

The job center determines the entitlement to unemployment benefit 2 on the basis of the applicant's living situation. This means: you have to use papers to explain exactly what costs you will incur each month.

To do this, the authority needs the personal details of the applicant and all members of the community of need, i.e. children, spouse, etc. You must also submit a rental agreement or receipts for your home and bank statements from the last three to six months.

In addition, the job center will check the income of the entire community of needs, i.e. also that of the spouse or the applicant himself (if Hartz IV is applied for as a top-up). 

The right forms: Where is the Hartz IV application made?

If you want or have to go to your job center in person, you should first research which authority is responsible for you.

This is always the job center in the town where the applicant is registered.

Depending on the size of the job center, you may not be able to just drop by spontaneously.

Find out in advance whether you might need an appointment at your job center.

You can also fill out the Hartz IV application online.

You can find the appropriate forms for unemployment benefit II on the hartziv.org website or on the arbeitsagentur.de website, where you can use your postal code to find out which job center is responsible for you.

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Hartz IV application submitted – what now?

As soon as you have submitted the application for unemployment benefit 2, you should collect the necessary documents already mentioned, such as rental agreement, etc.

After submitting the application, you will receive or make an appointment with a person in charge at the job center.

You can bring the documents with you to this appointment.

At the same time, an applicant profile is created on site, with the help of which applications, job interviews and, ideally, reintegration into the labor market can be realised.

Depending on the size of the job center and the workload of the employees, the processing of the application can take a few weeks to months.

Once the application is approved, benefits are paid to the applicant for an initial approval period of six months.

After these six months, a follow-up application or an application for further approval must be submitted.