Apply for one-off benefits for special needs

Relocation, pregnancy, birth: if you lack the money for certain situations in your life, you can apply for one-off benefits.

If you have little or no income or assets at your disposal, you can apply for citizen's allowance for one-off benefits in special situations. It does not matter whether you have received money from the Jobcenter so far or not. Situations in which you may be entitled to one-off benefits are, for example, if

• You are expecting a child and therefore need new equipment and clothing.
• You need furniture or household appliances for the first time or have to buy new ones after a divorce or separation.
• You need orthopaedic shoes or need to have them repaired.
• You need to have therapeutic devices or equipment repaired.

In these and other cases, you can apply for either a cash benefit or a benefit in kind, such as vouchers, from the Jobcenter.

Please contact your regional Jobcenter before submitting an application. In many cases, the job center uses its own application form, sometimes an informal application with a justification is sufficient. The amount of one-off benefits may vary from region to region.

• Identity card or passport
• proof of income
• if applicable:
  • Proof of assets
  • Tenancy agreement, proof of rent payments or house charges
  • Maternity pass or medical certificate of the date of delivery
  • prescription
  • Cost estimates

Please contact the Jobcenter responsible for you to find out which documents you need to submit for your case.

• You are fit for work.
• You are currently unable to cover your living expenses and are unlikely to be able to do so in the next 6 months.

• Objection
• Summary proceedings before the social court
• Action before the social court

For one-off benefits, contact your local Jobcenter by phone, e-mail or in person. They will provide you with further information and an application form if you need one. Alternatively, you can also apply for benefits online using the digital application for citizen's allowance.

• Complete the application form or write a reasoned, informal application, depending on the requirements of your local job center.
• Send the application to the job center. You must provide evidence of your need. Enclose the necessary documents requested by the Jobcenter that prove your need and are required for the assessment.
• The Jobcenter will check your application. Evidence from third parties, such as your landlord or landlady, may be required to check whether you need one-off benefits. Ultimately, the authority will make a decision on a case-by-case basis.
• You will then receive a decision from the Jobcenter. There are 3 possible decisions:
  • the application is approved,
  • the application is partially approved,
  • the application is rejected.

The Jobcenter pays you the approved amount or sends you the benefit in kind, such as a voucher.

Make the application before you make the purchases, as one-off benefits are only paid if the need is not yet covered.

It may take several weeks to process your application.

You do not have to bear any costs if you have an account.

The one-off benefits are provided under the responsibility of the local authorities, i.e. in independent cities and districts. The amount of benefits can therefore vary from region to region.