Applying for an additional needs allowance

Jobcenter · Supplement to the Grundsicherungsgeld under § 21 SGB II

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Additional needs allowances (Mehrbedarf) under § 21 SGB II are ongoing supplements that are recognised in addition to the standard needs because certain life situations permanently cause higher costs that the standard needs rate does not cover. They are not paid out as a one-off payment, but instead increase, month after month, the total needs of your Bedarfsgemeinschaft (community of need) and therefore the amount the Jobcenter pays out. Nothing is deducted from the standard needs in the process.

Important for context: since the reform that took effect on 1 July 2026, the ongoing benefit for subsistence under the SGB II is no longer called Bürgergeld (citizen's benefit) but Grundsicherungsgeld (basic income support benefit for jobseekers; § 19 Abs. 1 Satz 1 SGB II). Under § 19 Abs. 1 Satz 3 SGB II, additional needs allowances are part of this Grundsicherungsgeld and not a separate benefit with its own application procedure. How to apply for the main benefit itself is explained in our guide on the application for Grundsicherungsgeld (formerly Bürgergeld); accommodation costs run separately via the costs of accommodation under § 22 SGB II. The legal basis for the additional needs allowances remains § 21 SGB II, most recently amended by Article 1a of the Act of 16 April 2026 (BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 107).

This page sets out, for each of the seven additional-needs categories, the exact entitlement requirement, the percentage, the resulting euro amount based on a standard needs rate of €563 (standard needs rate 1), and the evidence the Jobcenter actually requires. An overview of all amounts can be found further below. Particularly important: under the SGB II, the additional needs allowance for persons with disabilities does not depend on a disability code (Merkzeichen) in the severely disabled person's pass — a confusion with social assistance law that year after year leads to hopeless applications while also masking genuine entitlements.

Last updated31 August 2026

Legal basis§ 21 SGB II

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Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta

Independent information page: we are not the Jobcenter, not an authority and not a paid advisory service — we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in simple terms; the competent body is always binding. Not legal advice. The amount of the additional needs allowances depends on the relevant standard needs rate and on the individual case; the decision is taken by the Jobcenter responsible for you. All information without guarantee. We are neither lawyers nor tax consultants: we document administrative procedures (Behördengänge) and check the information against the official source — this is information, not legal or tax advice.

Required documents

Which documents you need depends entirely on which of the seven categories under § 21 SGB II you fulfil. Always submit copies and keep the originals; each piece of evidence must show the circumstance giving rise to the entitlement and the point in time from which it exists, because the additional needs allowance is taken into account from the month in which the requirements are met.

Ongoing receipt of benefits or application for Grundsicherungsgeld. An additional needs allowance does not exist on its own, but only as part of the Grundsicherungsgeld. Anyone not yet receiving benefits first submits the main application; anyone already receiving benefits uses the notification of change. The Bedarfsgemeinschaft number or customer number should appear on every letter, otherwise it ends up in the wrong file.

Maternity record (Mutterpass) (copy of the page with the calculated due date). It proves that the twelfth week of pregnancy has been exceeded and at the same time sets the end point of the additional needs allowance. Alternatively, a medical certificate of pregnancy and the expected due date is sufficient. The Mutterpass is issued at the first antenatal check-up by the gynaecologist.

Birth certificates (Geburtsurkunden) of the children. They prove parentage and age and therefore determine the level of the single-parent additional needs allowance, since it depends on children under seven or under 16 years of age. Birth certificates are obtained from the Standesamt (registry office) of the place of birth. Once submitted, a certificate does not need to be resubmitted every year.

Registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) or household certificate. It documents that the child lives with you in the same apartment — living together is a statutory requirement of § 21 Abs. 3 SGB II. It is issued by the Bürgeramt (citizens' office) of your municipality. The registration status alone is not decisive, however: what also matters is that you alone provide for the child's care and upbringing.

Evidence of sole responsibility for care and upbringing. This includes, for example, a declaration on the actual care situation, documents on custody arrangements or a contact arrangement. They are needed if the Jobcenter doubts whether another adult in the household is permanently involved in care and upbringing. Record the other parent's care times as precisely as possible.

Approval notice for benefits for participation in working life or for integration assistance. This is the only suitable evidence for the 35% additional needs allowance: a notice on benefits under § 49 SGB IX, on other assistance to obtain a suitable place in working life, or on integration assistance (Eingliederungshilfe) under § 112 SGB IX. It is issued by the responsible rehabilitation body, for example the Agentur für Arbeit, the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, or the integration assistance (Eingliederungshilfe) provider. A severely disabled person's pass expressly does not suffice for this purpose under the SGB II.

Medical certificate on costly diet. It must name the diagnosis, give reasons for the medical necessity of the particular diet, and ideally state the expected duration. A blanket statement such as "a special diet is required" is not sufficient and regularly leads to rejection. What your doctor's surgery charges for such a certificate is not uniformly regulated and depends on the individual practice.

Evidence of decentralised hot water generation. Suitable evidence includes the tenancy agreement, the operating or service charge statement, or a confirmation from the landlord showing that hot water is generated via an instantaneous water heater or boiler in the apartment and is not billed through the heating costs. If you wish to claim higher amounts than the flat rate, you additionally need the readings from a separate measuring device.

List of school textbooks and payment receipts. For the additional needs allowance under § 21 Abs. 6a SGB II, submit the school's book list together with a receipt, invoice, or loan slip. The documents must show that the items are school textbooks or equivalent workbooks, and for which school year they were purchased. Keep the receipts until the end of the approval period.

Evidence for a hardship additional needs allowance. For the catch-all category under § 21 Abs. 6 SGB II, you must quantify and substantiate an ongoing, not merely one-off, need — for example through invoices, travel cost statements, or medical opinions. The more specifically you demonstrate why the need is unavoidable and clearly deviates from the average, the more robust the decision.

Current bank details and contact details. If the additional needs allowance changes the amount paid out, the bank details on file must be correct, otherwise payments bounce back and delays occur. Also check that your address in the benefits file is correct, since notices and requests to cooperate are served by post and deadlines run from notification (Bekanntgabe).

Step by step

Check the grounds for entitlement

Go through the seven categories under § 21 SGB II individually: pregnancy after the twelfth week (subsection 2), being a single parent with minor children (subsection 3), ongoing benefits for participation in working life or integration assistance (subsection 4), a medically justified costly diet (subsection 5), an unavoidable special need as a case of hardship (subsection 6), school textbooks (subsection 6a), and decentralised hot water generation (subsection 7). Several categories may be fulfilled at the same time. Check this list even if you have already been receiving benefits for years — life situations change, and the Jobcenter only learns of this if you report it.

Obtain the evidence

Obtain the piece of evidence that matches your particular category exactly: the Mutterpass for pregnancy, the registration certificate and birth certificates for single parents, the approval notice for participation benefits for a disability, a meaningful medical certificate with a diagnosis for a special diet, or the tenancy agreement or service charge statement for hot water. Allow a few days' lead time for certificates and medical certificates. It is better to submit one piece of evidence too many than too few, but make sure every document is legible and shows the name, date, and issuer.

Report the need in writing

Inform the Jobcenter of the additional need in writing — via the notification of change, the inbox (Postfach) of jobcenter.digital, or an informal letter with your customer number, date, and signature. A separate application is not legally required, because additional needs allowances are part of the Grundsicherungsgeld; the written notification, however, fulfils your obligation to cooperate and documents from when the Jobcenter had knowledge of it. Have receipt confirmed: a letterbox delivery with a date stamp, proof of posting, or confirmation in the online inbox. This evidence later determines from which month back payment is made.

Examination by the Jobcenter

The Jobcenter investigates the facts of its own motion and requests missing documents. For medical questions — especially regarding the dietary additional needs allowance — the Medical Service (Ärztlicher Dienst) is usually involved to assess the submitted certificate from a medical point of view; this can extend processing by several weeks. Respond to every request to cooperate within the deadline, because the benefit may be refused in whole or in part if you fail to cooperate. If you cannot meet a set deadline, ask in writing for an extension before the deadline expires.

Check the notice of change and the calculation sheet

Check in the calculation sheet of the notice whether the additional needs allowance is shown as a separate item with the correct percentage and from the correct month. Do the maths yourself: the percentage relates to the standard needs rate applicable to the person concerned, not to the amount paid out to the Bedarfsgemeinschaft. If several additional needs allowances coincide, also check the cap under § 21 Abs. 8 SGB II. Also compare the approval period: the additional needs allowance is often approved only for the remainder of the current period and must be substantiated again for the following period.

Objection or request for review

If the additional needs allowance has been wrongly refused, set too low, or overlooked entirely, lodge an objection (Widerspruch) in writing within one month of notification of the notice and specifically name the missing item. The objection is free of charge; a statement of reasons can be submitted later. If the deadline has already expired and the notice has become final, what remains is a request for review (Überprüfungsantrag) under § 44 SGB X — under which benefits in the SGB II are provided retroactively for at most one year (§ 40 Abs. 1 SGB II). If the objection is also unsuccessful, the route leads to a legal action before the Sozialgericht (social court), which is free of court costs in social law. How to structure an objection letter is shown in our guide on objecting to Jobcenter notices.

Report changes without undue delay

Additional needs allowances are tied to life situations that change. The pregnancy additional needs allowance ends with the end of the month in which the birth takes place — after which the single-parent additional needs allowance regularly comes into consideration, though it has its own requirements. The participation additional needs allowance ends with the measure, but may continue to be paid for a reasonable transitional period. Anyone who fails to report the end of an additional needs allowance receives too much money and must repay the overpaid amount under § 50 SGB X; for the following period you in any case submit the renewal application and enter the additional needs allowance there again.

Amount of the additional needs allowances & costs of the procedure

Additional needs allowance (legal basis)	Percentage	Amount at €563
Pregnancy from the 13th week until the end of the month of birth (§ 21 Abs. 2)	17 %	€95.71
Single parent: 1 child under 7 years or 2–3 children under 16 years (§ 21 Abs. 3 Nr. 1)	36 %	€202.68
Single parent: per child, if this results in a higher amount (§ 21 Abs. 3 Nr. 2)	12% per child	€67.56 per child
Single parent: statutory maximum rate (§ 21 Abs. 3 Nr. 2)	max. 60%	€337.80
Participation in working life / integration assistance (§ 21 Abs. 4)	35 %	€197.05
Costly diet: protein-restricted diet (§ 21 Abs. 5)	10 %	€56.30
Costly diet: coeliac disease, end-stage renal failure with dialysis (§ 21 Abs. 5)	20 %	€112.60
Hardship: unavoidable, special ongoing need (§ 21 Abs. 6)	individual case	equal to the unavoidable need
School textbooks and equivalent workbooks (§ 21 Abs. 6a)	individual case	according to the proven expenses
Decentralised hot water, adults (§ 21 Abs. 7 Satz 2 Nr. 1)	2,3 %	€12.95
Decentralised hot water, in the 15th year of life (§ 21 Abs. 7 Satz 2)	1,4 %	of the respective applicable standard needs rate
Decentralised hot water, from the 7th up to completion of the 14th year of life (§ 21 Abs. 7 Satz 2)	1,2 %	of the respective applicable standard needs rate
Decentralised hot water, up to completion of the 6th year of life (§ 21 Abs. 7 Satz 2)	0,8 %	of the respective applicable standard needs rate
Upper limit for the sum of the additional needs allowances under subsections 2 to 5 (§ 21 Abs. 8)	max. 100%	at most €563

Reference value and rounding. All percentages relate to the standard needs rate applicable to the respective person under § 20 SGB II. The euro amounts in the table are calculated on the basis of standard needs rate 1 of €563; for persons in a different standard needs rate they are correspondingly lower. Under § 41 Abs. 2 SGB II, the calculation is made to two decimal places and rounded half up — the additional needs allowance for pregnant women therefore amounts to exactly €95.71 and not approximately €96.

The upper limit under § 21 Abs. 8 SGB II. Several additional needs allowances are added together, but not without limit: the total additional needs allowance recognised under subsections 2 to 5 may not exceed the standard needs rate applicable to employable persons entitled to benefits. With a standard needs rate of €563, the limit is therefore €563 even where there are several grounds for entitlement. Not included in this cap are the hardship additional needs allowance under subsection 6, the school textbook additional needs allowance under subsection 6a, and the hot water additional needs allowance under subsection 7.

Costs of the procedure. No fees are charged for the administrative procedure at the Jobcenter; objections and legal actions before the social court are also free of court costs for persons entitled to benefits. Costs can arise only indirectly, for example if a doctor's surgery charges privately for a certificate or if you have to obtain certificates anew. These amounts are not uniformly regulated nationwide and depend on the individual practice or the issuing authority.

Payment. The additional needs allowance is not transferred separately, but increases the total need and therefore the monthly payment of the Grundsicherungsgeld. If it is recognised retroactively, a back payment is made for the months concerned. Because the additional needs allowance raises the total need, it can also mean that households with their own income become entitled to benefits for the first time, or again — a check is therefore worthwhile even in the case of a narrow refusal due to income being too high.

Important notes

Disability codes G or aG do not give rise to an additional needs allowance under the SGB II. § 21 Abs. 4 SGB II refers exclusively to the provision of benefits for participation in working life under § 49 SGB IX (with the exception of benefits under § 49 Abs. 3 Nr. 2 and Nr. 5 SGB IX), other assistance to obtain a suitable place in working life, or integration assistance under § 112 SGB IX. The 17% additional needs allowance for persons with disability code G, by contrast, is set out in § 30 Abs. 1 SGB XII and applies only in social assistance. Anyone who confuses these two systems submits a hopeless application while at the same time overlooking the genuine entitlement.

The participation additional needs allowance does not end abruptly with the measure. Under § 21 Abs. 4 Satz 2 SGB II, it can continue to be granted after the measure ends for a reasonable transitional period, particularly during an induction period. Actively point the Jobcenter to this provision if the additional needs allowance is cancelled with the last day of the measure.

Diabetes does not give rise to a dietary additional needs allowance. According to the recommendations of the Deutscher Verein, a full diet is indicated for type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and a full diet causes no illness-related additional costs. Recognised, among others, are coeliac disease and end-stage renal failure with dialysis at 20% each, protein-restricted diets at 10%, as well as cystic fibrosis and illness-associated malnutrition. These recommendations are a guide, are not legally binding, and do not replace an assessment of the individual case.

The law does not name a percentage for the dietary additional needs allowance. § 21 Abs. 5 SGB II speaks only of an additional needs allowance "in an appropriate amount" where there is a medically justified need. The 10% and 20% figures come from the recommendations of the Deutscher Verein, which are used in administrative practice. In the case of an illness not listed there, a separate justification of the actual additional costs is needed.

The pregnancy additional needs allowance runs until the end of the month of birth. § 21 Abs. 2 SGB II grants it after the twelfth week of pregnancy until the end of the month in which the birth falls. A birth on the 3rd of the month therefore does not mean that the supplement ends on that exact day — it is due for the full month.

For single parents, actual care is what counts, not merely the registration status. § 21 Abs. 3 SGB II requires that you live together with minor children and provide alone for their care and upbringing. A further adult in the household therefore does not automatically rule out the additional needs allowance; what matters is whether that person actually contributes to a significant extent to care and upbringing. Conversely, the registration certificate alone is not enough if care is actually shared.

Check both calculation methods for single parents. Alongside the 36% rate for one child under seven years, the same rate also applies for two or three children under 16 years. If the alternative of 12% per child results in a higher percentage, that is to be applied — with four children, for example, 48%, capped at a maximum of 60%.

Hot water only in the case of decentralised generation. The additional needs allowance under § 21 Abs. 7 SGB II requires that the hot water is generated by equipment installed in the accommodation, so that no needs are recognised for centrally provided hot water under § 22 SGB II. If hot water is generated via the central heating system, it belongs to the costs for accommodation and heating. Under sentence 3, higher expenses than the flat rate are taken into account only to the extent that they are proven by a separate measuring device.

School textbooks are a separate additional needs allowance. Under § 21 Abs. 6a SGB II, expenses for the purchase or loan of school textbooks and equivalent workbooks are to be recognised as an additional needs allowance. It exists alongside the education and participation benefits and is not covered by the cap under § 21 Abs. 8 SGB II.

The hardship additional needs allowance is the practically most important catch-all category. § 21 Abs. 6 SGB II covers a special need that is unavoidable in the individual case, arises on an ongoing basis, is not covered by contributions from third parties or reasonable savings, and deviates substantially in amount from the average need. Examples include permanently increased hygiene expenses in certain illnesses or regular travel costs for exercising a right of contact. Each case is examined individually, so a comprehensible quantification is what matters.

Additional needs allowances increase the need — and therefore the entitlement threshold. Because they are part of the Grundsicherungsgeld under § 19 Abs. 1 Satz 3 SGB II, the total need of the Bedarfsgemeinschaft rises with them. Households whose application narrowly failed due to income should therefore have the calculation redone as soon as an additional needs allowance is added.

Forgotten additional needs allowances can be reclaimed retroactively. If an entitlement was overlooked in a notice that has become final, a request for review under § 44 SGB X comes into consideration; under the SGB II, benefits are then provided retroactively for at most one year (§ 40 Abs. 1 SGB II). Submit the request in writing, name the notice concerned with its date, and attach the evidence for the past period.

Common mistakes

Basing an additional needs allowance on the severely disabled person's pass

Anyone who bases the 35% additional needs allowance on disability code G, aG, or a degree of disability receives a notice of rejection, because § 21 Abs. 4 SGB II refers to participation benefits under § 49 SGB IX or integration assistance under § 112 SGB IX. The second consequence is fatal: anyone who believes the entitlement fails because of the disability never checks whether an ongoing participation measure actually gives rise to the entitlement — and loses €197.05 month after month.

Applying for a dietary additional needs allowance due to diabetes

According to the recommendations of the Deutscher Verein, diabetes mellitus is not a reason for a dietary additional needs allowance, because a full diet is indicated. The application is rejected, often only after the Medical Service has been involved and several weeks of processing time — time that was missing for examining a category that actually applies.

Adding up additional needs allowances without regard to the cap

Anyone who adds up the percentages under subsections 2 to 5 without checking is calculating with money that will never arrive: § 21 Abs. 8 SGB II limits the total to the applicable standard needs rate, i.e. to €563. The result is payment plans that do not add up, and objections against a calculation that is in fact correct.

Submitting a medical certificate without a diagnosis and justification

A certificate that only states "a special diet is required" or "a mild diet is recommended" is not sufficient, because § 21 Abs. 5 SGB II requires a medically justified need. The Jobcenter rejects it or requests further information; several weeks easily pass without payment until a usable certificate is submitted.

Only mentioning the need verbally

A mention during a consultation or on the phone cannot be proven later. If the additional needs allowance is then not taken into account, there is no evidence of when the Jobcenter had knowledge — and the back payment only begins with the month in which the written notification is proven to have arrived.

Applying for the hot water additional needs allowance despite central supply

If the hot water is generated via the central heating system, there is no entitlement under § 21 Abs. 7 SGB II, because these costs are already billed as heating costs under § 22 SGB II. The application is rejected; anyone who then does nothing further overlooks the fact that, in this case, the actual hot water costs are to be recorded via the accommodation costs.

Not reporting the end of the additional needs allowance

If the pregnancy, the participation measure including the transitional period, or living together with the child ends, the additional needs allowance lapses. Anyone who does not report this immediately receives benefits without legal grounds and must repay the overpaid amount under § 50 SGB X — over several months this quickly adds up to a three- or four-figure amount.

Letting the objection deadline lapse

The objection must reach the Jobcenter within one month of notification of the notice. After that, the notice becomes final, and only the request for review under § 44 SGB X remains, with retroactive effect limited to at most one year (§ 40 Abs. 1 SGB II) — anything further back is finally lost.

Not stating the additional needs allowance again in the renewal application

Many additional needs allowances are recognised only for the current approval period. Anyone who does not state and substantiate them again in the renewal application silently loses the supplement at the start of the new period and often only notices it months later from the lower payment.

Frequently asked questions

How much additional needs allowance do I get as a single parent?

If you live together with one child under seven years, or with two or three children under 16 years, and provide alone for their care and upbringing, the additional needs allowance amounts to 36% of the applicable standard needs rate, i.e. €202.68 at a standard needs rate of €563. If the alternative calculation of 12% per child (€67.56) results in a higher percentage, that calculation applies; the upper limit is 60%, i.e. €337.80 (§ 21 Abs. 3 SGB II).

From when and until when is the pregnancy additional needs allowance paid?

The 17% additional needs allowance, i.e. €95.71, is recognised after the twelfth week of pregnancy and is therefore paid from the 13th week. It does not end on the day of the birth, but runs until the end of the month in which the birth falls (§ 21 Abs. 2 SGB II).

Is disability code G in the severely disabled person's pass sufficient for the additional needs allowance?

No. Under the SGB II, the 35% additional needs allowance does not depend on a disability code or on the degree of disability, but exclusively on whether you are actually provided with benefits for participation in working life under § 49 SGB IX, other assistance to obtain a suitable place in working life, or integration assistance under § 112 SGB IX. The well-known 17% additional needs allowance for disability code G is set out in § 30 Abs. 1 SGB XII and applies only in social assistance, not in the Grundsicherungsgeld.

Do I get a dietary additional needs allowance for diabetes?

No. According to the recommendations of the Deutscher Verein, diabetes mellitus — type 1 as well as type 2 — does not give rise to an additional needs allowance, because a full diet is indicated for it and a full diet causes no illness-related additional costs. Recognised, by contrast, are, among others, coeliac disease and end-stage renal failure with dialysis at 20% each, as well as protein-restricted diets at 10%, and furthermore cystic fibrosis and illness-associated malnutrition.

Do I have to apply for the additional needs allowance separately?

The law requires a separate application only for benefits under § 24 Abs. 1 and 3 and for needs under § 28 Abs. 5 SGB II (§ 37 Abs. 1 Satz 2 SGB II). Additional needs allowances under § 21 SGB II, by contrast, are part of the Grundsicherungsgeld and are to be taken into account by the Jobcenter of its own motion as part of its duty to investigate. In practice, you should nonetheless report and substantiate the circumstances giving rise to entitlement without delay in writing, because the authority can only examine what it knows about.

Are several additional needs allowances paid alongside one another?

Yes, several additional needs allowances can exist at the same time, for example pregnancy and being a single parent. However, the sum of the additional needs allowances under subsections 2 to 5 may not exceed the applicable standard needs rate (§ 21 Abs. 8 SGB II), i.e. at most €563. The hot water additional needs allowance under subsection 7 and the school textbook additional needs allowance under subsection 6a do not fall under this cap.

How much is the additional needs allowance for decentralised hot water generation?

Adults receive 2.3% of the applicable standard needs rate, which is €12.95 at €563. For children and young people, 1.4% applies in the 15th year of life, 1.2% from the 7th up to completion of the 14th year of life, and 0.8% up to completion of the 6th year of life, each based on the standard needs rate applicable to them. Higher actual expenses are only taken into account to the extent that they are proven by a separate measuring device (§ 21 Abs. 7 SGB II).

Does the Jobcenter cover the costs of school textbooks?

Yes. Under § 21 Abs. 6a SGB II, expenses for the purchase or loan of school textbooks and equivalent workbooks are to be recognised as an additional needs allowance. Submit the school's list of textbooks and the payment receipt; this additional needs allowance is not covered by the cap under § 21 Abs. 8 SGB II.

What to do if the Jobcenter has overlooked an additional needs allowance?

You can lodge an objection against the approval notice within one month of notification and specifically name the missing item. If the objection deadline has already expired, what remains is a request for review under § 44 SGB X, with which the notice that has become final is corrected retroactively; under the SGB II, benefits are then provided retroactively for at most one year (§ 40 Abs. 1 SGB II).