Category: Social

You can search for an apartment here: 

There are also large housing companies where you can search directly: 

If you only need one room in an apartment, look for a shared flat called a WG.
WG (Wohngemeinschaft) means shared living space.

There are words like “Kaltmiete” (cold rent) and “Warmmiete” (warm rent) in the advertisements.
The basic rent is just the rent without bills.
The warm rent is the cold rent plus bills for water, heating, and so on.
The warm rent is always higher than the cold rent.
These bills are estimates of how much water and heating you use each month.
Every apartment has devices that count how much water and heating you use.
These devices are called water meters and heating meters.
Once a year, someone comes to look at these devices and write down how much water and heating you have used.   

You receive a fixed bill for heating and water once a year.
This bill is called “operating costs billing.”
If you use more heating or water than planned, you will have to pay more.
If you use less heating or water than planned, you will get money back.

On wg-geuscht.de There are good tips in German and English on how and with what information to best contact a landlord. The landlord decides who gets an apartment.


Do you think you are being discriminated against when looking for an apartment?
The Anti-Discrimination Office Leipzig helps you with this. Die Hilfe ist kostenlos. 

Landlords usually want to see the following documents: 

  • Passport/ ID card
  • Tenant self-disclosure: You fill this paper with your personal information aus. For example: Name, date of birth, telephone number
    Here you will find a template.  
  • Previous landlord certificate/certificate of no rent arrears: This is a document from your previous landlord. It states that everything was fine in your old apartment and that you always paid the rent. Here you will find a template. 
  • SCHUFA: This document shows your creditworthiness in Germany. This means whether you have large debts in Germany. You can use this document here  
  • Proof of income: Landlords want to see that you have enough money to pay rent each month. Show your last three pay stubs/payslips from work.

Do you receive money from the social welfare office or job center? You first need approval from the social welfare office or job center for the apartment. The job center or social welfare office will give you approval if the apartment isn't too expensive. Here see how much rent is paid by the job center/social welfare office for how many people in Leipzig.
Before you sign the rental agreement, send the rental offer to the job center / social welfare office.
A rental offer includes information about the size of the apartment and how much the rent, water and heating costs.
The job center/social welfare office will send you an answer as to whether the apartment is OK.
If the apartment is OK, show the answer to the landlord. 


These apartments are only for people with less money.
If you want social housing, you need the “Wohnberechtigungsschein” (WBS) document.
You will receive the WBS document from the social welfare office.

If you have the WBS document, you can also contact the landlord directly for social housing.
Here you will find further information.
Here see where these social housing units are in Leipzig. 

You pay money as a deposit when you move into a new apartment.
You'll get the money back when you move out, as long as everything in the apartment is in order. The deposit can be a maximum of three times the basic rent. If the basic rent is €400, the maximum deposit can be €1,200. You have the right to pay the deposit in three installments.
If you move out later, you should get your deposit back. However, there is no exact deadline for getting it back. The landlord may keep part of the deposit if you caused damage to the apartment. Part of the deposit can also be used to cover outstanding bills, such as water and heating.

You should not pay any money before signing a rental agreement.
You can make an apartment handover protocol with the landlord.
Here is a template.
There you write whether anything in the apartment is already broken.
Then you won’t have to pay for this repair yourself when you move out later. 

When you view an apartment, it is called a “viewing.”
There is a guide for this tour if you don't speak much German.
The project Gorkistrasse 120 accompanies you.
There they speak German and other languages.
 

This brochure has a lot of information about renting in Leipzig. 

Have you found an apartment in Leipzig?
You must register in Leipzig.
You do this in a citizens' office.
You have 2 weeks to do this after you move in.
You bring your ID card and the “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” (confirmation of residence) for registration at a Citizens’ Office.
Your landlord fills out the paper “Confirmation of accommodation provider“ aus.
You don’t have an apartment and are living with friends or family?
Your friends or family fill out the “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” paper

Here is the application form for registration.

There are several citizens’ offices in Leipzig.
You can make an appointment online here book.
You can also book an appointment by phone: 0341 115.

You can also go without an appointment.
Here see the current waiting times.
Once the registration is complete, you will receive the “Meldebestätigung/Meldebescheinigung” (registration confirmation/certificate of residence).
This is an important document, and you should keep it. But if you lose it, you can get a new copy at the Citizen's Office.

You will receive a letter from the tax office after registration.
The letter contains your tax ID (tax identification number).
You will receive a different letter from the Broadcasting Contribution Service.

Make sure your name is on the mailbox.
Check regularly to see if you have received any mail.
If you don't understand a letter, ask someone.
You can visit without an appointment Welcome Center go.

It is sometimes difficult to register in Leipzig.
For example: You don't have your own apartment and sometimes sleep with friends.
If you do not have the “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” document, registration is not possible.
You can try to register as a person "without a permanent residence" at the Leipzig Citizens' Office if you have already registered in Germany. You can deregister "to an unknown address" and then register as a person without a permanent residence in Leipzig.
This is important as proof if you need financial assistance from authorities in Leipzig.
If you find yourself in this situation, seek help from a counseling center.

The video explains how things work without a registered address/registration:


Do not register for an apartment if you do not actually live there.
This is not legal.
You don't have to pay anyone to register. You can work and open a bank account without registering! If you need help with this, you will get it for free.see 

Are you moving to another apartment?
You must register this new residence. This change is called "Ummeldung" (re-registration). 

Are you leaving Germany permanently or do you no longer have an apartment?
You must also inform the Citizens' Office. This is called 'deregistration'.
You have 2 weeks to do this.
You can on-line or in person at the Citizens’ Office.

Furniture

Apartments in Germany are usually without furniture.
Some apartments already have a kitchen (EBK – fitted kitchen) but most do not.
You need furniture and you don't have much money?

Even if you work and don't earn much, you can get money from the job center for furniture for your first apartment.
The money for furniture is called initial equipment. More information and a furniture checklist are available here. hereThe form for the Jobcenter is here and for the social welfare office here.

There are places in Leipzig where you can buy furniture cheaply.
You show your pay slip or the letter (notice) from the job center/social welfare office.
One place is the Caritas shop and another is the Social goodshaus.
You can also find cheap furniture online at Classifieds.
You can find free furniture at Giveaway market. 

Have you not paid the rent for a few months?
Have you received a reminder or notice of termination from your landlord?
You can get help from social welfare office.
The social welfare office can pay debts for rent or energy bills.
You must show the social welfare office that you have income now and in the future.
For example, from work or from the job center/citizen’s allowance/social welfare office.
The social welfare office gives the money as a loan.

Here is the form for rent arrears or energy debts. 

There is a Tenants' Association in Leipzig.
The tenants' association can help if you have problems in your apartment or with your landlord.
The tenants’ association will explain your rights as a tenant.
You pay a membership fee once a year. The first membership fee is €94.
If you receive money from the job center/social welfare office, the job center/social welfare office will pay this membership fee. To do this, ask the job center/social welfare office for a 'certificate of eligibility for the tenants' association.'

The Leipzig Unemployment Center (LEZ) has a Information center for tenants. They help with questions and problems related to your apartment such as the rental agreement, termination, rent increase, rent reduction, etc. You must make an appointment by email at erwerbslosenzentrumLE@t-online.de or by phone at 0341 / 420 67 62.

There is also a utility costs assistance association in Leipzig.
Have you received a large water or heating bill and you don't understand why?
Here You get help there. You pay a membership fee if you get help there.


You can also get energy advice, which will tell you how to use less energy. There is energy advice from Consumer Advice Center and also from Caritas. 

You should ventilate your home regularly, even in winter. Twice a day, you should open your windows completely (not just closed) for a few minutes. This prevents mold from growing in your home. Here There are tips for this.


The office is called “Housing Emergency Assistance.”
Here are the contact details. 

Families with children under 18 years of age receive emergency accommodation.
Adults without children can go to a shelter for the homeless.
There are two for men and one for women.
These are open from 4:00 PM to 8:00 AM on weekdays and all day on weekends and holidays. There is an overnight shelter for men at Rückmarsdorferstrasse 7 and Helenenstrasse 26. It costs €5 per night to sleep at Rückmarsdorferstrasse. Helenenstrasse is an emergency shelter and is free of charge.

During the day there are also places where homeless people can go.
They are called “Tagestreff” (Day Meeting).
There they receive warm drinks, clothing and help from social workers.
One is the OASIS in the Seeburgviertel (near the center).
The other is the ISLAND in Neulindenau (Leipzig West). 

If you're feeling sick, you should go and see a doctor.
If it is an emergency, call an ambulance (telephone 112) or go to the hospital.
If it is not urgent, you first go to a GP (general doctor).
In Germany this is called 'Hausarzt' or 'Hausärztin'.
The doctor can provide you with a sick note or a prescription for medicine.
A sick note is called a 'Krankenschein' and is used a proof to your employer that you cannot go to work or to your child's school that they must stay at home.
A sick note in Germany looks like this: 

eAU_Employer_Sample_A4-1Download

You have to tell your employer or the school yourself that you or your child is sick.
You call and tell them how long you or your child have been declared sick (in German 'krankgeschrieben).
If you are registered as a jobseeker with the Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit, then you also have to inform them of sickness.
The doctor will write a certain length of time you are 'krankgeschrieben'.
If you are still sick at the end of this time, then go to the doctor again and they can extend it.

If the illness is more complicated, you get a referral note called an 'Überweisung' to see a specialist.
For example: if you are having heart problems, then you will receive an 'Überweisung' for a cardiologist.
A cardiologist is a doctor with expertise about the heart.
An 'Überweisung' referral looks like this: 

Transfer slip-6Download

An Überweisung is valid for a three-month period.
It will be January to March, April to June, July to September, or October to December.
You can use the Überweisung in the three-month period it was issued, or in the following one.
For example: you get an Überweisung on May 20th. It will be valid until September 30th.
You do not need an Überweisung to see certain specialists. You can make an appointment directly with them.
This includes doctors for children (Kinderärzt*innen), women (Frauenärzt*innen) and eye doctors (Augenarzt*innen). 

Here is a list of doctors in Leipzig who speak other languages.

Here You can search for doctors online:
You write “Leipzig” at the top of the place.
In the middle, indicate whether you are looking for a general practitioner or a specific specialist.
Below is "Additional Information." There you can select a foreign language.

Unfortunately, it is often difficult to get an appointment with a doctor.
If you call a doctor's office, you may be told:
“We are not accepting new patients”
If you have called several doctor's offices and cannot get an appointment, call the patient service line.
The telephone number is 116117.
The people there will find a doctor's appointment for you.
Here is the page.

Health insurance does not pay for language mediation during a doctor’s appointment.
If you don't speak enough German, you will have to bring someone with you.
Very often people have to pay other people to do it or they try to translate via mobile phone.

There are organizations that accompany people to doctor's appointments.
You don't have to pay anything. The project is called 'Leipzig Helps Interpreting.'
If you need language mediation for a doctor’s appointment, contact here They also accompany you to other appointments, such as school, youth welfare office, lawyer appointments, etc.
Please provide the following information:  

  • When is the doctor’s appointment (date and time)? 
  • Where is the doctor's appointment (name and address of the doctor's office)? 
  • Which language do you need?

Health insurance in Germany is quite complicated.
We explain this here very simply and generally.
There are two types of health insurance.  

  1. Statutory health insurance 
  1. Private health insurance 

Here we only provide information on statutory health insurance.
There are various health insurance companies that offer statutory health insurance.
For example AOK, TK, IKK, DAK

EU citizens do not need German health insurance when visiting here.
Students also do not need German health insurance.
If these people become ill, they can go to a doctor from their home country using their EHIC card.
Other people who stay here longer must have German health insurance.

If someone works more than a mini-job (i.e., they earn more than €520 per month), the money for health insurance is deducted directly from their salary. It is then shown on their payslip.
If someone only works in a mini-job, the job center can pay the money for health insurance.
The person must apply for the “citizen’s allowance” at the job center.

If you move away from Germany, you must deregister from your health insurance provider.


This page has much more information in German and other languages about health insurance for EU citizens:
https://www.eu-gleichbehandlungsstelle.de/eugs-de/eu-buerger/infothek/krankenversicherung

Because health insurance is complex and sometimes very expensive, some people have difficulty with it.
They don't even get into health insurance.
Or they had health insurance but the premiums were not paid and now they have a lot of debt.
The card has been blocked by the health insurance company.

There is also help for such people in Leipzig.
You can go to the organization CABL.
CABL helps people without health insurance and with problems related to health insurance.
For people without health insurance, CABL organizes medical assistance: If a person needs to see a doctor as an outpatient, they will receive a free referral.
The service is anonymous and confidential. CABL staff do not share patient information with the social welfare office or immigration authorities.
You don't have to pay anything.
Here is the website of CABL.

There are also the polyclinic in Leipzig.
They do not provide medical treatment but have a lot of information about the health system in Germany.
The polyclinic can also organize a translation.
There are also activities such as yoga, art and self-help groups.

You buy medicines at a pharmacy.
For minor issues like a sore throat or fever, you can get medication directly from the pharmacy.
If you need stronger medication, you must bring a prescription from your doctor to the pharmacy.
Even if you have health insurance, you will still have to pay something for the medication.
This means “co-payment”.

You have to pay a maximum of 10 euros per medication.
There is no co-payment for medication for children up to 18 years of age.
If you have to buy medication very often, you can apply for an exemption from co-payments.
You do not have to pay more than 21% of your gross income per year.
For people with chronic diseases the limit is 1%.
In such cases, it is important that you keep your medication receipts. 

  • KuGeL – Information on the health system 

The Project KuGeL organizes events in Leipzig in various languages.
The events provide migrants with information about their health and the German health system.

  • Your rights as a patient 

There is the “Independent Patient Advice Germany” (UPD) for health issues.
For example: What are my rights as a patient? How do I get sick pay? What vaccinations do I need?
You can call them and get information on these and other questions.
The consulting services is currently available in German, Arabic, Russian and Turkish.

There are specific offers for the following groups. Counseling is free of charge.
For such offers, there is usually a language mediator if you don't speak much German.

  • pregnancy 

Pregnant people can go to a “pregnancy advice center.”
There they receive information about their health and where financial assistance is available.
Here These counseling centers are listed and there is a checklist of everything that is necessary before and after the birth.

  • disability 

For people with disabilities, there is the EUTB (supplementary independent participation advice).
The EUTB helps people, for example, with an application for a severely disabled person's ID card or with finding a job as a person with a disability.
There are these 3 in Leipzig:
http://www.leben-mit-handicaps.de/
https://offenerdialog-ev.de/teilhabeberatung/
https://leipzig-und-autismus.de/beratung/

  • Mental illnesses 

The St. Georg Hospital offers Counseling on psychosocial issues.
It is open to all migrants in Leipzig and the people there can organize language mediation.

  • Sexuality, HIV and sexual health

At the organisation AIDS Help Leipzig (aidshilfe Leipzig) you can get free, anonymous counseling on these topics. They test for HIV (€20), syphilis (€15), hepatitis C (€15), chlamydia (€35), and gonorrhea (€35). Queer-friendly, and interpreting in other languages is available but it's best to register in advance.

Sexual health advice and free HIV testing are available at the Gesundheitsamt: Leipzig Health Department.

For sex workers, the Health Department (Gesundheitsamt) additional specialised supports are available, such as tests, vaccinations and advice. You can remain anonymous, and their help is free of charge. The Gesundheitsamt can also arrange an interpreter.

If you are pregnant, you can get a lot of information from a pregnancy counseling center.
Here These counseling centers are listed and there is a checklist of everything that is necessary before and after the birth. 

If you are married, your husband is automatically considered the child's father.
If you are not married, the child's father should acknowledge paternity.
The recognition of paternity means that the father has certain rights and obligations.

If you are married, you automatically have joint custody with your husband.
If you are not married, you should discuss custody with the father.
If you decide on joint custody, make this official with the father by means of a custody declaration.

You will make the acknowledgment of paternity and the declaration of custody with the child’s father at the youth welfare office.
These are very important things and it is important that you and the father understand everything at the appointment.
If you and/or the child's father do not speak much German, the Youth Welfare Office can organize an interpreter.
Here There is more information and contact details from the Leipzig Youth Welfare Office.

Children are not required to attend daycare. Parents decide whether and when a child should attend.
Compulsory only comes in primary school.
If a child is six years old on June 30, he or she must start primary school that year.

Kita is short for childcare facility. There are two parts:

Nursery: for children from 0 to 3 years

Kindergarten: for children from 3 years up to school age

If you are looking for a daycare place in Leipzig, register your child on my daycare place to.
You can then select daycare centers.
If you need help with registration or finding a place, you can get help in the Welcome Center or at Youth Welfare Office.

The Youth Welfare Office has a brochure to daycare centers in Leipzig and here answered many questions about it.

There are various financial benefits for families. 

Many people are familiar with child benefit.
EU citizens can receive child benefit in Germany, even if the children live in another country.

Other possible benefits include child supplement, parental allowance, maintenance advance and state child benefit.
Here most family benefits are explained.
Here There is a multilingual brochure from the Leipzig Youth Welfare Office.

State child benefit is not available everywhere in Germany.
In Leipzig, the money is available to parents of children aged 1-2 years if one parent stays at home and looks after the child.
How much money is that? It depends on the child's age and how many children you have.
Here it is explained in detail.

Sometimes raising children is challenging or there is conflict between parents.
In such cases, it makes sense to contact a family counseling center.

Family counseling centers have a lot of experience with such situations.
The help is free and the staff often speak other languages.
Here All family counseling centers in Leipzig are listed.

The youth welfare office has the task of protecting children and young people and supporting parents.
The Youth Welfare Office has various departments, for example for daycare centers or parental allowance.
It also offers family counseling.

The youth welfare office employs social workers who look after the welfare of children.
That means they make sure that a child is doing well.
If a child is in a dangerous situation (child endangerment), the youth welfare office can take the child into custody.
This means that the child stays in a home run by the youth welfare office or with a foster family until the child can possibly return to the family.
The family court decides on such matters.
The child receives help during the proceedings from a legal representative.
This person has the task of representing the child’s interests.

Here You can read information about the tasks of the Youth Welfare Office in various languages.

If you don't have enough money to live on, you can get money from the government.
Such money is a “social benefit”.
For example, citizen’s allowance, housing benefit, child benefit.
There are different authorities that provide the money.
For example, the job center, the social welfare office, the family benefits office.
Here There is information about money for people who have children.
The money is called “family benefits.”

There are many rules for foreigners as to whether or not they receive such money.
The information on this page explains the situation for EU citizens.
There are different rules for people who are not EU citizens.
These people can seek advice if they have questions about social benefits.
Such counseling centers can be found under Further Help. 

Here you can see two representations with the most common authorities in Germany.

This question is complex and each person has their own situation.
If you or your family members work, you can receive social benefits.
You don't have to have a full-time job.
A mini-job is also sufficient if you work several hours per week.
Even if you are self-employed and have a low income, you can still receive social benefits.
If you earn little money, you can get citizen's allowance from the job center.
If you earn a little more money but not much, you can get housing benefit from the social welfare office.

If you lose your job, you may still be able to receive social benefits.
However, unemployment must be involuntary.
For example, because you had a fixed-term contract.
There are also other regulations for EU citizens on how they can receive social benefits without working.

If you have a child in school (not daycare/kindergarten) in Germany and have worked in Germany at some point, you can receive social benefits as long as the child goes to school.
Or if you have lived in Germany for 5 years and can prove it.
Normally, the first registration in Germany is used to prove these 5 years.
The rules on social benefits for EU citizens are very complex.
There are sometimes new laws about this.
If you are not sure whether you are entitled to benefits, seek help from a counseling center. 

Many people have heard of the job center.
The job center pays the social benefit “Citizens’ Money.”
Some people also call it 'ALGII / Arbeitslosengeld II / Hartz IV / SGB II'.
Citizen's income is for people who don't have a job. But it's also for people who work and don't have enough to pay for everything themselves. 

If you want to receive citizen’s allowance from the Leipzig Jobcenter, you must have the following:

  • You can work at least 3 hours per day. 
  • You live in Leipzig. 
  • You are not of retirement age. 

You have to ask the job center for the money.
 

Postal address: 
Jobcenter Leipzig 
PO Box 100831 
04008 Leipzig 

E-mail: jobcenter-leipzig@jobcenter-ge.de 

The best way to do this is online at “Jobcenter digital" make.

To verify your eligibility, you must fill out various forms.
All applicants must complete the “Main motion" fill out.
There are other forms for this, depending on your personal situation.
If you have children, you must complete the form “AI" fill out.
If you have income, you must complete the form “EK" fill out.

In addition to the forms, the job center needs other documents.
For example: bank statements, pay slips, rental agreements.
Send these documents as copies, not the originals.
If the job center has other questions or needs documents, you will be contacted.

It is important that you check regularly to see if you have any new communication from the Jobcenter.
Try to clarify any outstanding questions and submit documents before the deadline.
The job center will give you a deadline. This is the date by which you should resolve the matter.
If you need more time, you can request more time. This is called an "extension."
When you apply for citizen's allowance, you'll receive a number called a needs-based community number or BG number. Always write this number down when sending something to the job center.

If you need help with the forms, ask the Jobcenter for an appointment.
This means “assisted initial application with interpreter”.
The best way to ask is by email and the language you speak.
E-mail: Jobcenter-Leipzig@jobcenter-ge.de


EU citizens are entitled to this. They don't have to pay anything for it, and they don't have to bring someone to the job center to translate everything.
This regulation is in this document declared by the Federal Employment Agency.
The Federal Employment Agency regulates all job centers and employment agencies in Germany.

Once the job center has reviewed everything, a decision will be made. The job center will inform you of this in a letter called a "notice."
This notice is very important. You should keep it.
If you receive money, you will receive a “notice of approval.”
It looks like this:

Sample notice - Citizen's AllowanceDownload

If you don’t get money, you’ll receive a “rejection notice.” 

If you receive such letters, you should examine them carefully.
If the job center gives you money:
For how long?
How much?
Did they calculate everything correctly? Will I get enough money for my rent? 

If the job center does not give you money:
Why not?
Did I forget to send something or did the job center not calculate correctly?

If something is incorrect, you have one month to correct it.
You file an objection and send it to the job center.
An objection is a letter in which you state what was incorrect in the decision.
Your situation will then be reviewed again and you will receive a new notice.
This is called “notice of objection”.
Once a month has passed, you can no longer object.
However, you can have the notice reviewed.
To do this, you make a “review request”.
If you still think the decision is incorrect, you can go to court.
The court for such social benefits is called the Social Court.
You should seek advice before doing this. 

The job center pays money on the last working day of a month for the next month.
For example: The Jobcenter transfers the money on Thursday, November 30, 2023, for the month of December 2023.
If you don’t have any money, you can get money directly from the job center.
This means “advance payment”.
You will receive an advance payment if you have submitted the necessary documents but processing still requires time.
You must also show that you do not have any money in your bank account.
You will receive the money as a voucher.
You take the voucher to a supermarket and get the money paid out.

The job center gives money for various things:
Standard needs: This is money for food, clothing, electricity, and so on
Rent (including water and heating costs)
Health insurance: the job center pays this directly to the health insurance company.
Children in school or training: Job centers pay for various things. This is explained here.
There is more money for certain people, for example pregnant women or single parents.

Jobcenter also pays money for one-off things:
If you move into an apartment and have no furniture, you will receive money for furniture from the Jobcenter.
If you have a baby, Jobcenter pays money for baby clothes and things like a baby bed.
If you have a back payment for operating costs for your apartment, the Jobcenter can also pay this.
There are people who normally have enough money and do not need help from the job center.
But you cannot pay if you receive a large additional payment for operating costs.
If you submit the bill to the job center in the same month, the job center can still pay it. 

The Job Center pays the money monthly in advance. This means the money is transferred on the last working day of the month for the following month.
For example: You get the money for April at the end of March.
Sometimes it takes a few days for the money to be in your account.
If you urgently need money, you can apply for an advance.
This means you get some money (100€ or so) now from the money for next month.
If you need an advance, you must go to the job center and explain your situation.
You must have proof that you don't have any money. It's best to show the current balance of your bank account. 

If you receive money from the Jobcenter, you do not have to pay for certain things, for example:  

  • Broadcasting fee 
  • health insurance 
  • Pay parental fees for daycare/after-school care 
  • Integration course (German course) 

The notice is generally valid for 6 or 12 months. This is the "approval period."
At the end of this period, you must submit a new application if you continue to need help from the Jobcenter.
You do not need to submit a completely new application. You only need to fill out the form WBA (application for continued approval) fill out.
Make sure you submit the new application before the approval period expires.
Otherwise, you won't get any money and will have to pay for things like health insurance yourself. 

There are many other social benefits for specific situations. For example, when someone retires or has a disability.
For the first time, we can only briefly say something about other benefits besides the Citizens' Allowance from the Job Center.

You get unemployment benefits from the Leipzig Employment Agencyif you have worked for at least 12 months.
It must be a job with social security, that is, with health insurance and so on.
A mini-job is not enough to receive unemployment benefits. 

You receive unemployment benefits for half the months you have worked.
If you have worked for 12 months, you will receive unemployment benefits for 6 months.
You can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 12 months.

Unemployment benefit is slightly less than half of gross income.
For example, if you earn €1,000 a month, your unemployment benefit is approximately €470 per month. If you have children, you get a little more.
Here you can quickly calculate the possible unemployment benefit yourself.
If you cannot live on unemployment benefits, you can apply for citizen's allowance from the Jobcenter.

Housing benefit is available from the Leipzig Social Welfare Office.
You cannot receive housing benefit if you receive citizen's allowance.
Housing benefit is for people who have some money, for example income from work, but need a little extra financial help.
You must complete an application form and send it with other documents by email or post to Social Welfare Office send.
Here There is detailed information on housing benefit.

Under Children & Family we have information about this.

The Leipzig Pass is for people in Leipzig who don't have much money.
It's a card with your photo on it.
With the Leipzig Pass you can Germany Ticket get it cheaper.
It costs 29€ instead of 49€.
Other things are also cheaper, for example going to a museum or swimming pool.

You can get the Leipzig Pass at a citizens’ office in Leipzig.
You can make an appointment here book.
You must bring various documents with you.
It is important to provide proof that you do not have that much money.
You bring a notice from the job center/social welfare office or your pay slips.
Here everything is explained simply.

People with the Leipzig Pass who have children can also receive education and participation benefits.
For example, you don’t have to pay for school meals or for a school trip.
Read how to do this at School.

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