New regulation: Applying for social benefits at the Job Centre

From June onwards, the payment of social benefits to refugees from Ukraine will be transferred from the Social Welfare Offices to the Job Centres. This affects:

• all those who have not yet reached retirement age under German law with the exception of those who receive a retirement pension under Ukrainian law. This is checked by the Job Centre.
• except people who, for medical reasons, are permanently unable to earn their living through work. You need to go to the Job Centre for this to be checked.

These people now receive higher benefits from the Job Centre and no longer receive benefits from the Social Welfare Office. However, you will have to make additional appointments in the course of the changeover. Depending on which conditions you meet, the procedure will differ slightly. However, you will not be left without benefits at any time.

Procedural changes from 1 June 2022: Guide for refugees

1: You have already had an appointment at the State Office for Immigration (LEA) and have a residence permit for Berlin

You can apply to the Job Centre for social benefits: To do so, contact the Job Centre in the district where you have received benefits so far. You can find more information on the page of the Employment Agency. If you have not yet been fingerprinted, this must be done by 31 October 2022. You do not have to do anything, the appointment for this identification process will be sent to you.

2: You have an appointment with the LEA and a formal or a substitute temporary residence permit

If you already have an appointment with the LEA that takes place after 31 May 2022 and you have received a formal temporary residence permit (green folding card) or a substitute temporary residence permit (white stamped letter from the LEA), you can apply to the Job Centre for social benefits. To do so, contact the Job Centre in the district where you previously received benefits. You can find more information on the page of the Employment Agency.

At your appointment at the LEA, it will be checked whether you have already been identified. If not, you will be given an appointment at the State Office for Refugee Affairs. The identification process will be carried out there. You will receive your residence permit from the LEA.

3: You have an appointment with the LEA and an online temporary residence permit.

If you already have an appointment with the LEA that takes place after 31 May 2022 and you have, so far, only received an online temporary residence permit (your own printout following digital application), then the social welfare office will continue to pay your social benefits. If you are not yet receiving benefits, you must apply to the Social Welfare Office.

At your appointment at the LEA, it will be checked whether you have already been identified. If not, you will be given an appointment at the State Office for Refugee Affairs (Landesamt für Flüchtlingsangelegenheiten – LAF). The identification process will be carried out there. You will receive your residence permit from the LEA and can then apply to the Job Centre. Until these benefits are granted, you are entitled to benefits from the Social Welfare Office.

4: You do not yet have an appointment for the issuance of a residence permit and are not registered

If you have not received an appointment at the LEA for the issuance of a residence permit by 31 May 2022 and have not yet been registered or allocated to Berlin, you must go to the Ukraine Arrival Centre TXL. There you will possibly be allocated to Berlin and the identification process will be carried out. You can then apply for a residence permit at the LEA.

After the LEA has granted you a residence permit, you are entitled to social benefits from the Job Centre, for which you must apply. If you are registered in Berlin, you are entitled to benefits from the Social Welfare Office until the benefits are granted by the Job Centre.

Further information