Emergency assistance – application

Emergency assistance can only be applied for in person or online via MeinAMS.

Unemployed persons who have exhausted their entitlement to unemployment benefits

Emergency assistance shall only be granted if the unemployed person is available for placement and is in a state of need.

A state of need exists if the unemployed person is unable to meet their basic living requirements. When assessing the state of need, the overall financial circumstances of the unemployed person must be taken into account.

Further information can be found at: Notstandshilfe – Allgemeines und Anspruch^{German Text}

Emergency assistance must be applied for within five years of the last receipt of unemployment benefit or emergency assistance. Under certain conditions laid down by law, this period may be extended.

The competent regional office of the AMS^{German text} . This is usually the regional office for you place of residence.

Applications are primarily submitted online via MeinAMS. It is still possible to submit an application in person at the regional office of the AMS.

After the AMS has reviewed the application, emergency assistance will be granted if the requirements are met and a notification will be sent stating the start, the end dates and the amount of the emergency assistance entitlement.

Depending on your individual situation, you may need to submit different documents. Please enquire about this at your local AMS office.

There are no costs or fees involved.

Further Links

• Emergency assistance (AMS)^{German text}
• Health insurance (AMS)^{German text}
• MeinAMS (AMS)^{German text}
• AMS offices (AMS)^{German text}

Sections 33 and following of the Arbeitslosenversicherungsgesetz (AlVG)

MeinAMS (AMS)

In person: Application at the relevant regional office of the AMS.

Electronically: Application via MeinAMS (AMS)^{German text} (you can request access data via the MeinAMS homepage (AMS)^{German text}, by telephone, by e-mail to the regional AMS office, or via FinanzOnline (BMF)^{German text}).

If you disagree with the benefit awarded, you have the right to request a decision on your entitlement to benefits within three months of receiving the notification. If no decision on entitlement to benefits is requested within three months of receiving the notification, the matter is considered closed and cannot be appealed.

If the application is rejected, the unemployed person will be sent a decision. Appeals against decisions made by regional offices can be lodged within four weeks. The regional office can make a preliminary appeal decision within 10 weeks. If the regional office does not make a preliminary appeal decision or if an appeal is lodged with the Federal Administrative Court within two weeks, the Federal Administrative Court will decide.

The AMS provides ombudsman services for each federal state.