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Reapplication for continued benefits to the Jobcenter: keep getting basic income support (Bürgergeld)

The Jobcenter usually approves basic income support (formerly Bürgergeld) for one year at a time (§ 41 Abs. 3 SGB II). After that, it does not continue on its own: you have to submit a reapplication for continued benefits (Weiterbewilligungsantrag, or WBA), and you need to do this before your approval period ends. You can submit the application online, by post, or in person at the Jobcenter. You need to include the assets form (Anlage VM) and bank statements from the last three months for everyone in your household community (Bedarfsgemeinschaft). If the application arrives late, the Jobcenter only pays from the first day of the month in which it is received (§ 37 Abs. 2 SGB II).

As of: 12.10.2026 · Editorial team HalloAmt · General information, not legal advice (see note at the end).

The reapplication for continued benefits has six pages, and many questions depend on each other. HalloAmt walks you through the form question by question in your language, only asks what applies to you, and creates the finished PDF for your Jobcenter. Start the reapplication →

What is the reapplication for continued benefits?

With the reapplication for continued benefits, you apply for basic income support for the next approval period. It is shorter than the first application: the Jobcenter mainly asks what has changed, regarding your housing, income, and the people in your household.

Without this application, you will not receive any money once your approval period ends. The law states that benefits are only paid on application (§ 37 Abs. 1 SGB II), and according to the Federal Employment Agency's technical guidance, this applies to every follow-up approval.

Since 1 July 2026, the benefit has been called basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld) (§ 19 SGB II). Until 31 December 2026, authorities are still allowed to write "Bürgergeld" (§ 65a Abs. 4 SGB II). Forms and benefit decisions that still say "Bürgergeld" remain valid, according to the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit).

When do I need to submit the reapplication for continued benefits?

Before your approval period ends. You can find the end date in your benefit decision. Usually, the Jobcenter sends you a letter beforehand saying that your approval period will end soon; but do not rely on this alone. The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) does not give a fixed deadline in weeks; the information leaflet only says that you should submit the application in good time.

Approval periodwhen
one yearthe standard case (§ 41 Abs. 3 SGB II)
six monthsthe Jobcenter is meant to set this mainly when it makes a provisional decision, for example if your income varies, or if your housing costs are unreasonably high

The period applies to the whole household community (Bedarfsgemeinschaft). So one application is enough for everyone who receives basic income support together with you.

What happens if I submit the application too late?

The Jobcenter does not pay basic income support for the time before the application (§ 37 Abs. 2 SGB II). However, the application takes effect retroactively to the first day of the month in which it is received. This means:

  • Application in the month right after the period ends: You will still get paid for this month, so there is no gap.
  • Application one or more months later: You will not get anything for the full months in between.

For an online application, the date counted is the day you submit it; for post or email, it is the day it arrives at the Jobcenter. If you have already missed the deadline, submit the application right away. Not submitting an application does not count as giving up your right to it.

How do I submit the reapplication for continued benefits?

The application is not bound to any particular format. You have three options:

  1. Online through the "Apply for continued benefits" service on arbeitsagentur.de. The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) recommends this option because you can upload supporting documents directly there. You need a user account with the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit); if you do not have login details yet, ask your Jobcenter. The old address jobcenter.digital now redirects to arbeitsagentur.de.
  2. By post, sending the completed and signed form to your Jobcenter.
  3. In person at the Jobcenter.

You can find the form as a PDF on the Federal Employment Agency's page for the reapplication for continued benefits. The current version is marked at the bottom with the code "Jobcenter-WBA 10/2026".

What documents do I need?

Section F of the form lists what always needs to be included:

DocumentNote
Assets form (Anlage VM)submitted once for the whole household community (Bedarfsgemeinschaft)
Bank statements from the last three monthsfor all accounts of everyone in the household community, complete and without gaps; a simple transaction summary is not enough
Other attachmentsonly if your situation requires them, for example Anlage EKS for self-employment, or Anlage UF after an accident caused by a third party
Proof of changesfor example pay slips, the current heating and utility cost statement, or new benefit decisions for other benefits

Important: The Jobcenter only needs copies. Original documents that you hand in at the Jobcenter are digitized and destroyed after eight weeks. On bank statements, you are allowed to black out certain personal details, but only for expenses; the exact rules are in the Federal Employment Agency's instructions for filling in the form. Any missing documents can be submitted later, but as soon as possible.

You can find the attachments as separate PDF files in the Federal Employment Agency's download center.

What does the form ask for?

SectionContent
Apersonal details, household community (Bedarfsgemeinschaft) number
Bhousing situation and who lives with you
Ccosts for housing and heating, whether renting or owning
Dincome of everyone in the household community
Eother changes, claims against third parties, accidents, changes you have not reported yet
Fattachments
Gnotes and signature

For education and participation benefits, you usually do not need a separate application; only for learning support is a separate application required. For children aged 15 and over, you usually submit a school certificate.

What changed on 1 July 2026?

If you are already receiving benefits, you do not need to submit a new initial application. When your current approval period ends, you submit the reapplication for continued benefits as before.

For assets, new rules apply starting with the first approval period that begins on or after 1 July 2026 (§ 65a Abs. 1 SGB II). The grace period for assets no longer exists. Instead, each person in the household community keeps an allowance based on age that is not counted as assets (§ 12 Abs. 2 SGB II):

AgeAllowance
under 30 years5,000 €
30 to 39 years10,000 €
40 to 49 years12,500 €
50 and over20,000 €

Any amount one person does not use can be transferred to others within the household community. Assets are assessed as of the date you submit the reapplication for continued benefits (§ 12 Abs. 3 SGB II).

How long does processing take?

The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) does not name a fixed processing time. Things go faster if the application is filled out completely, all proof documents are included, and all information is correct. If documents are missing, the Jobcenter (Jobcenter) can refuse the benefit fully or partly. Before doing so, it must tell you in writing about this consequence and give you a reasonable deadline (§ 66 SGB I).

If the Jobcenter (Jobcenter) has not decided after six months without a good reason, you can file an action for failure to act (Untätigkeitsklage) with the social court (Sozialgericht) (§ 88 SGG). You can file an objection (Widerspruch) against the decision notice within one month after it is announced (§ 84 SGG); how to do this is explained in the legal remedy notice (Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung) at the end of the decision notice.

Housing benefit (Wohngeld) and child supplement (Kinderzuschlag): separate applications

Housing benefit (Wohngeld) and child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) have their own approval periods and their own applications with other offices. You apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) again at the housing benefit office (Wohngeldbehörde) of your city or district, see Applying for housing benefit (Wohngeld beantragen). The Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) grants the child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) for six months at a time, see Applying for child supplement (Kinderzuschlag beantragen). If you receive one of these benefits, state it as income in your continuation application (Weiterbewilligungsantrag).

Frequently asked questions

When do I have to submit the continuation application (Weiterbewilligungsantrag)?

Before your approval period ends. The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) does not give a fixed deadline in weeks; the information leaflet only says that you should submit the application in good time. The end of your approval period is stated in your decision notice, and the Jobcenter (Jobcenter) usually sends you a letter beforehand.

What happens if I submit the continuation application (Weiterbewilligungsantrag) too late?

The Jobcenter (Jobcenter) does not pay basic security benefit money (Grundsicherungsgeld) for time before the application. However, the application takes effect retroactively from the first day of the month in which it is received. So if you submit it in the month after your approval period ends, your payments continue without a gap. If you submit it later than that, you get nothing for the months in between.

Can I submit the continuation application (Weiterbewilligungsantrag) online?

Yes. The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) recommends the online way, because you can upload proof documents directly there. You need a user account with the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) for this. You can also send the application by post or hand it in in person at the Jobcenter (Jobcenter).

What documents do I need for the continuation application (Weiterbewilligungsantrag)?

According to the form, you need the Assets Appendix (Anlage VM), submitted once for the whole benefit community (Bedarfsgemeinschaft), and the bank statements of the last three months from all accounts of all people in the benefit community (Bedarfsgemeinschaft). You also need proof of anything that has changed, for example payslips or a new heating cost statement. The Jobcenter (Jobcenter) only needs copies.

How long does processing of the continuation application (Weiterbewilligungsantrag) take?

The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) does not name a fixed processing time. Things go faster if the application is filled out completely and all proof documents are included. If no decision has been made after six months without a good reason, you can file an action for failure to act (Untätigkeitsklage) with the social court (Sozialgericht).

Is a form still valid if it says citizen's income (Bürgergeld) on it?

Yes. According to the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), all forms and online services can still be used, and previous decision notices remain valid. Until the end of 2026, authorities may also still use the name citizen's income (Bürgergeld).

Where can I get the continuation application (Weiterbewilligungsantrag) as a PDF?

On the Federal Employment Agency's (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) page about the continuation application (Weiterbewilligungsantrag) and in the Agency's download center. The current version has the code "Jobcenter-WBA 10/2026" at the bottom. The appendices, such as VM, EKS, or KDU, are available there as separate files.

Filling out the continuation application (Weiterbewilligungsantrag) with HalloAmt

HalloAmt goes through the form "Jobcenter-WBA 10/2026" with you in your language and creates the finished PDF, which you sign and send to your Jobcenter (Jobcenter). At the end, a list tells you which proof documents and appendices you need to include. HalloAmt does not yet fill out the appendices themselves, such as the Assets Appendix (Anlage VM); you can get these from the Jobcenter (Jobcenter) or at arbeitsagentur.de. Fill out the continuation application (Weiterbewilligungsantrag) with HalloAmt →

This page offers general, carefully researched information (as of 12.10.2026) and does not replace legal advice. Forms, amounts, and online procedures may change; your Jobcenter (Jobcenter) decides in individual cases. For binding information, please contact your Jobcenter (Jobcenter), a social counseling service, or a lawyer. We cannot guarantee completeness or that the information is up to date.

Sources