Apply for support for the employment of long-term unemployed people

    If you, as an employer, would like to employ long-term unemployed people who have been unemployed for at least 2 years and are receiving citizen's allowance at the time of your application, you can apply for wage subsidies from the Jobcenter.

    Description

    As an employer, you can give long-term unemployed people the chance of a new career start through employment subject to social security contributions.

    The aim is to keep your new employee in your company for as long as possible after the end of the support.

    The job center can reimburse part of your wage costs in the first 2 years and also finances coaching.

    Wage cost subsidy for 2 years

    The Jobcenter can grant you subsidies towards wage costs for 2 years. The wage cost subsidy is paid monthly and amounts to

    • in the 1st year of employment 75% of the regular salary to be taken into account and
    • 50 percent of the regular pay to be taken into account in the 2nd year of employment.

    The subsidy also covers your employee's insurance with a flat-rate social security contribution (except: contribution to unemployment insurance).

    You do not receive a subsidy for one-off payments such as Christmas bonuses or vacation pay.

    Support during employment (coaching)

    In addition, the Jobcenter will cover the costs of two years of coaching to support your previously long-term unemployed employees, for example with problems at their new workplace, with their family or with difficulties in organizing their everyday life. This makes it easier for your new employees to get used to everyday working life again after a long period of unemployment.

    Your sponsored employees should take part in this coaching. In principle, the coaching can take place during or outside working hours, at the workplace or at another location. In the first 6 months of the support, you must release your supported employee from work for the coaching, in the case of coaching during working hours with continued payment of wages. The need for coaching is determined on an individual basis. Your business needs will be taken into account when scheduling the coaching.

    The coaching is designed in such a way that it also takes into account the specific requirements that you or your company place on the staff. However, the coaching does not include technical training.

    The coach will involve you as required and will be available to you as a point of contact for questions relating to the supported employee.

    If necessary, further vocational training can also be funded.

    Only your local Jobcenter will decide whether you are eligible for funding. This means that you have no legal claim to it.

    Online service

    Online-Antrag zur Förderung von Langzeitarbeitslosen: Unterstützung zur Beschäftigung von Langzeitarbeitslosen beantragen

    ID: B100019_104102304

    Description

    Den Förderantrag können Sie online stellen. Das Jobcenter stellt Ihnen den Online-Antrag in der Profilübersicht Ihres Benutzerkontos bereit. Ihnen wird zur Antragstellung ein PDF zur Verfügung gestellt, dass Sie ausfüllen und hochladen können. Des Weiteren können Sie erforderliche Dokumente (zum Beispiel den Arbeitsvertrag) hochladen.

    Use this service online

    Trust level

    You need an account with password to use this online service (trust level: low).

    further information on the level of trust for online services

    Identification

    • no identification

    Language

    Deutsch

    Sprache: de

    Competent office

    You can find the Jobcenter responsible for you via the office finder.

    Contact point

    You can find the Jobcenter responsible for you via the office finder.

    Contact person

    Bundesagentur für Arbeit (BA), Arbeitgeber-Hotline

    Opening hours

    Monday 08:00 - 18:00 Tuesday 08:00 - 18:00 Wednesday 08:00 - 18:00 Thursday 08:00 - 18:00 Friday 08:00 - 18:00

    Contact

    telephone: +49 800 4555520(Service-Hotline der Bundesagentur für Arbeit; gebührenfrei)

    Version

    Technisch geändert on 17.10.2025

    Language version

    Deutsch

    Sprache: de

    Englisch

    Sprache: en

    Sprachbezeichnung nativ:

    English

    Bundesagentur für Arbeit (BA), Dienststellenfinder

    Internet

    Version

    Technisch geändert on 10.11.2025

    Language version

    Deutsch

    Sprache: de

    Englisch

    Sprache: en

    Sprachbezeichnung nativ:

    English

    Required documents

    • Fully completed application
    • employment contract

    Prerequisites

    • The person for whom you wish to receive the grant must
      • be receiving citizen's allowance at the time of your application
      • have been unemployed for at least 2 years and
      • have not yet taken up employment despite the Jobcenter's placement efforts.
    • The employment must be subject to social insurance contributions.
    • You must employ the employee for at least 2 years.
    • Funding is excluded if
      • you are terminating an existing employment relationship in order to receive a wage subsidy or
      • you wish to employ a person who has been employed by you for more than 3 months in the last 4 years and who is subject to social insurance contributions.
    • Contradiction

    Procedure

    In order to receive the wage subsidy, you must submit an application before you hire someone and the employment contract is concluded.

    • Get in touch with your contact person at the Jobcenter. They will advise you on the subsidy and provide you with the application form or the application online.
    • Complete the funding application and submit it to the Jobcenter.
    • Your job center will check your application and inform you whether the employment relationship is eligible for funding and whether the person you would like to hire is eligible for this funding.
    • If the response is positive, you can conclude the employment contract and send it to the Jobcenter immediately.
    • If all requirements are met, you will receive a notice of approval from the Jobcenter.
    • The job center will arrange the employment coaching for your employee.

    Deadlines

    Apply for the wage subsidy before you sign the employment contract with your new employee.

    Objection deadline: 1 month

    Processing time

    Not specified

    Costs

    There are no costs.: Fee free of charge

    Further Information

    Area of validity

    Germany-wide

    Official approval

    Officially approved by Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS) on 01.12.2023

    Version

    Technisch geändert on 28.02.2024

    Keywords

    Employment, Labor market, Employment agency, Job center

    Language version

    Deutsch

    Sprache: de

    Englisch

    Sprache: en

    Sprachbezeichnung nativ:

    English