Renewal application 2026 — extending Grundsicherungsgeld (formerly Bürgergeld)

Jobcenter · Extension of the approval period under §§ 37, 41 SGB II

Online + in person + in writing

Last updated31 August 2026

State of the lawRenamed Grundsicherungsgeld as of 1 July 2026

Legal basis§§ 37 Abs. 2, 41 Abs. 3, 19 SGB II · § 60 SGB I

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Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta

Independent information site: We are not the Jobcenter (job centre), 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 authoritative. The scope of the evidence required and the processing time depend on the competent authority. All information provided without guarantee, not legal advice. We are neither lawyers nor tax consultants: we document administrative procedures and check the information against the official source — this is information, not legal or tax advice.

From Bürgergeld to Grundsicherungsgeld — what this means for your renewal application

The ongoing benefit to secure subsistence under Book Two of the Social Code (Zweites Buch Sozialgesetzbuch, SGB II) has officially been called Grundsicherungsgeld (basic income support benefit for jobseekers; § 19 Abs. 1 Satz 1 SGB II) since 1 July 2026. It was renamed by the Act on the Restructuring of Basic Income Support for Jobseekers, which is coming into force in stages. You will therefore still find the earlier term Bürgergeld (citizen’s benefit) in older notices, forms, information sheets and letters — it refers to the same benefit from the same authority.

The renaming changes nothing about the procedure for the renewal application: your Jobcenter remains the competent authority, the application remains free of charge, and the relevant provisions — § 37 SGB II for the application, § 41 SGB II for the approval period and § 60 SGB I for cooperation — continue to apply unchanged. Any official notice (Bescheid) issued under the name Bürgergeld before 1 July 2026 remains effective until the end of its approval period. You therefore do not need to apply again just because the name has changed; a renewal application is only required once the period stated in the notice expires.

This page covers exclusively the renewal application while you are already receiving the benefit. If you are applying for the benefit for the first time or after a longer interruption, the initial application for Grundsicherungsgeld at the Jobcenter is the right way to go — considerably more evidence is required there than for the renewal application.

The most important point to clarify from the outset: A late renewal application does not automatically lead to a gap in payment. § 37 Abs. 2 Satz 2 SGB II expressly states: “The application for benefits to secure subsistence takes effect retroactively to the first of the month.” Someone who submits the application on the 20th of a month therefore receives the benefit retroactively from the 1st of that same month. The entitlement is only finally lost for calendar months that have passed completely without an application, because under Satz 1 no benefits are provided for periods before the application was submitted.

Required documents

Which evidence the Jobcenter requires for the renewal is not regulated uniformly across the country. The decisive factor is the obligation to cooperate under § 60 SGB I: the authority may demand all information and evidence relevant to the benefit. The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, BA) provides a shorter form for the renewal; approved local authorities under § 6a SGB II use their own forms. The following list covers the evidence usually required in practice — the letter from your Jobcenter is always authoritative.

Renewal application (main form) — The Federal Employment Agency provides its own form for the renewal application, which asks for less information than the initial application. It is not mandatory: § 37 Abs. 1 SGB II merely requires an application, which can also be made informally — in writing, recorded in person at the Jobcenter, or electronically. If you submit the form only later, the date of your informal application remains the decisive one.

Proof of income for all members of the Bedarfsgemeinschaft (community of need) — This includes payslips, notices on unemployment benefit, pensions, sickness benefit, parental allowance or Wohngeld (housing benefit), as well as maintenance payments and income from self-employment. The decisive factor is the income during the coming approval period; the Jobcenter usually estimates it based on the most recently submitted payslips. If a change is foreseeable — the end of a probationary period, seasonal work, an expiring contract — submit the contract or notice of termination straight away, so that no repayment is claimed later.

Bank statements — There is no nationally uniform rule on how many months must be submitted; the often-cited figure of “one month” is not a legal norm. The scope follows § 60 SGB I and the practice of the respective Jobcenter, which may request the statements relevant to the calculation. How many months are required in your case can be found in the letter or by asking your caseworker — submit the statements in full and in the order of the page numbers.

Tenancy agreement and current evidence of accommodation and heating costs — Required if the basic rent, service charges or heating costs have changed since the last application, for example due to a rent increase, a service charge statement or adjusted advance payments from the energy supplier. You should submit any additional charges from a service charge statement immediately, because they can be taken into account as a need in the month they fall due. How reasonableness is determined and what applies after the grace period is explained on our page about costs for accommodation and heating.

Proof of assets — Account balances, savings, building society savings contracts, securities accounts, life and pension insurance policies, as well as vehicles you own. The Jobcenter may ask for this information again because your financial situation can change during an approval period, for example through inheritance, a gift or an insurance payout. Not every item is counted towards your assessment — report it anyway, because concealed assets typically lead to the notice being revoked and a repayment claim.

Evidence of changes in the Bedarfsgemeinschaft — a birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde) for a new child, a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) for moving in or out, evidence of separation or divorce, school or training certificates for adult children, and valid residence titles. These documents determine who counts as part of the Bedarfsgemeinschaft at all and which standard needs rates are applied. Since the approval period is set uniformly for all members under § 41 Abs. 3 Satz 3 SGB II, a missing certificate delays the decision for the entire household.

Evidence for additional needs — additional needs under § 21 SGB II — for example for pregnancy, single parenting, disability or a diet that is costly for medical reasons — are only granted on proof and do not continue automatically. Submit the maternity record (Mutterpass), the severe disability card or the medical certificate again with the renewal application. You can find an overview of the individual circumstances under additional needs at the Jobcenter.

Valid proof of identity — an identity card (Personalausweis), passport or residence title is needed above all for in-person appointments and when new household members are included for the first time. Make sure the document has not expired: an expired identity document can delay processing and, for foreign persons entitled to benefits, can also affect the examination of the entitlement to benefits. If your document expires during the new approval period, arrange for its renewal early.

Step by step to the renewal notice

Check the notice for the end of the approval period

The approval notice states the exact date up to which benefits are approved — usually at the beginning of the operative part. Enter this date in your calendar and set yourself a reminder around four weeks beforehand. Many Jobcenter offices send a reminder letter on their own initiative or already enclose the form, but they are not obliged to do so: whether and when you are reminded depends on the competent authority, and there is no entitlement to it. So never rely solely on letters from the Jobcenter.

Submit the application in time — informally if necessary

The SGB II does not provide for a statutory application deadline. The widespread recommendation to submit two to four weeks before expiry is purely a practical recommendation so that payment continues without interruption — it is not a legal obligation, and missing it is not missing a deadline. Legally, only § 37 SGB II counts: the application takes effect retroactively to the first of the month in which it is submitted. So if time is running short, first submit the application informally under § 37 Abs. 1 SGB II — a single sentence by post, by email through the portal, or recorded in person at reception is enough — and submit the form and evidence afterwards.

Gather documents for the entire Bedarfsgemeinschaft

Gather the evidence for all persons who belong to the Bedarfsgemeinschaft, not only for yourself. How extensive the documents are depends on the institution: the Federal Employment Agency provides a shorter form for the renewal, while approved local authorities under § 6a SGB II work with their own forms. § 60 SGB I remains the legally decisive provision — the Jobcenter may demand all evidence relevant to the calculation. The frequently repeated claim that only changes need to be proven for the renewal application is therefore not true in every case.

Submit the application and document receipt

You can submit the application online via jobcenter.digital — the legal basis for electronic applications is § 36a SGB I together with § 9a of the Online Access Act (Onlinezugangsgesetz) — hand it in personally at reception, or send it by post. Not all Jobcenter offices are connected to the portal: approved local authorities under § 6a SGB II sometimes run their own portals or only accept applications in writing. In every case, secure proof of receipt — the confirmation page or PDF for an online application, a receipt stamp on your copy when submitting in person, an Einwurf-Einschreiben (registered letter delivered to the recipient’s letterbox), or a witness when you drop it into the Jobcenter letterbox. In a dispute about the date of application, the burden of proof usually lies with you, and it is exactly this date that determines the retroactive effect.

Request an advance or a provisional decision if there is a delay

There is no statutory processing deadline for the renewal application; how long the review takes depends on the competent authority and on how complete your documents are. If the Jobcenter has not decided by the start of the new approval period, several instruments are available to you: if the entitlement is established in principle and only the calculation of the amount is taking longer, an advance must be paid on your application (§ 42 Abs. 1 SGB I); the advance payment begins at the latest after one calendar month has elapsed from receipt of the application. If the amount is still unclear — for example with fluctuating income — the Jobcenter can decide provisionally (§ 41a SGB II). If the authority remains inactive, an application for interim relief at the Sozialgericht (social court) under § 86b SGG, and after six months an action for failure to act under § 88 SGG, come into consideration.

Check the new notice and observe the deadline

Check three points above all in the new notice: the approval period, the composition of the Bedarfsgemeinschaft with the standard needs rates assigned, and the recognised expenses for accommodation and heating. Under § 41 Abs. 3 Satz 1 SGB II the period is usually one year, but under Satz 2 it is to be shortened to six months if a provisional decision is made or your accommodation costs are considered unreasonable. If you do not agree with the notice, lodge an objection (Widerspruch) within one month of notification (§ 84 Abs. 1 SGG) — after that the notice becomes final and can only be corrected under strict conditions.

Fees & costs

The administrative procedure under the Social Code is free of charge: § 64 Abs. 1 SGB X makes official acts, proceedings and information free of fees and expenses. For the renewal application you therefore pay neither an application fee nor a processing charge — neither online nor at the counter — and the objection proceedings against the renewal notice also remain free of charge. Costs arise at most indirectly through postage, copies or trips to the Jobcenter; you bear these yourself.

Situation	Cost / consequence
Submitting the application (online, in person, in writing)	Free of charge — § 64 Abs. 1 SGB X
Forms, information sheets, advice at the Jobcenter	Free of charge
Objection to the renewal notice	Free of charge — preliminary proceedings under § 64 SGB X
Application late, but still within the current month	No gap — retroactive effect to the first of the month (§ 37 Abs. 2 Satz 2 SGB II)
Application submitted only in the following month	Entitlement for the skipped month lapses (§ 37 Abs. 2 Satz 1 SGB II)
Decision is delayed beyond the start	Advance on application — § 42 Abs. 1 SGB I; alternatively a provisional decision under § 41a SGB II
Postage, copies, travel costs for submission	Borne by yourself — amount depends on the method chosen

Please note: “free of charge” does not mean “without consequences”. The only financially relevant consequence of a late application is the loss of entitlement for calendar months that have passed completely — not a fee, and not a blanket loss of payment from the end of the old approval period. Until then, the retroactive effect to the first of the month applies, so that an application at the end of the month triggers the same start of benefits as an application at the beginning of the month.

Important notes and special cases

Retroactive effect to the first of the month — the central rule. Under § 37 Abs. 2 Satz 2 SGB II, the application for benefits to secure subsistence takes effect retroactively to the first day of the month of application. This retroactive effect only applies within the same calendar month and is no substitute for forward planning, but it gives you breathing room until the end of the month in an emergency. It applies to the benefits to secure subsistence, not necessarily to every special benefit that requires its own application.

The renewal application is a fresh application — and it can be submitted informally. Legally, this is not merely an extension but a new application under § 37 Abs. 1 SGB II. The law does not prescribe a particular form: written form, a record made in person at the Jobcenter, or electronic transmission are sufficient. If the form or evidence is missing, secure the date of application first with an informal application and supply the rest afterwards.

Twelve months is the standard case, six months the frequent special case. Under § 41 Abs. 3 Satz 1 SGB II, approval is usually granted for one year. However, Satz 2 requires a shortening to six months if a provisional decision is made under § 41a SGB II or if the expenses for accommodation and heating are unreasonable — after the grace period ends, this affects a great many households. Under Satz 3, the period is set uniformly for all members of the Bedarfsgemeinschaft; you can find details on reasonableness under costs of accommodation.

There is no entitlement to a reminder letter. Whether your Jobcenter writes to you or sends the form before the approval period expires depends on the competent authority; there is no statutory duty to remind you. If no letter arrives, that changes nothing about your own responsibility to submit the renewal application. Note the end date from the notice and act independently of the post.

The online route is not available everywhere. The Federal Employment Agency operates a portal, jobcenter.digital, for SGB II applications including the renewal; electronic applications are based on § 36a SGB I and § 9a of the Online Access Act. However, not all approved local authorities under § 6a SGB II are connected and some use their own portals or only accept applications in writing. Check the website of your Jobcenter in advance to see which route is intended.

If the decision is taking its time. If your entitlement is established in principle and only the calculation of the amount is taking longer, the Jobcenter must pay an advance on application (§ 42 Abs. 1 SGB I); payment begins at the latest after one calendar month has elapsed since the application was received. If the amount is still unclear, a provisional decision under § 41a SGB II comes into consideration. If you are facing hardship, interim legal protection under § 86b SGG is the fastest remedy.

Take your duty to cooperate seriously — and make up for anything missed. You should submit requested documents within the deadline set in the letter; § 60 SGB I obliges you to do so. If you fail to respond despite a written request pointing out the consequences, the benefit can be refused or withdrawn in whole or in part under § 66 SGB I. If you subsequently cooperate, the benefit must be provided retroactively under § 67 SGB I if the requirements are met — so staying inactive is never worthwhile.

Report changes immediately, not only at the renewal. § 60 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 SGB I requires you to report changes in circumstances without delay — new employment, a pay rise, a move, a household member moving out, an inheritance. Anyone who waits until the renewal risks the current notice being revoked and a repayment claim under §§ 45, 48, 50 SGB X in conjunction with § 40 SGB II. Reporting in good time, by contrast, protects you from repayment demands and offsetting.

An ongoing benefit reduction does not remove your obligation to apply. Even during a reduction or a dispute over a notice, you must submit the renewal application in time, otherwise the benefit ends with the old approval period. An objection and a renewal application are two separate procedures and do not replace one another. You can read how to proceed against a reduction under objection to sanctions.

Common mistakes and their consequences

Submitting the application only in the following month

The retroactive effect of § 37 Abs. 2 Satz 2 SGB II only reaches back to the first of the month in which the application is submitted. If a full calendar month passes without an application, the entitlement for that month is finally lost — under Satz 1, no benefits are provided for periods before the application was submitted. The consequence: you must cover rent and subsistence for that month from your own means, and the health insurance coverage provided through the benefit can also lapse for that period.

Relying on the reminder letter from the Jobcenter

The Jobcenter has no statutory duty to remind you of the end of the approval period; whether you are reminded depends on the competent authority. Anyone who waits for a letter that does not arrive, or arrives late, loses valuable days — in the worst case the change of month and, with it, the entitlement for an entire month. The end date from your own notice is always the decisive one.

Not submitting requested documents

Anyone who fails to submit evidence despite a written request pointing out the consequences breaches the obligation to cooperate under § 60 SGB I. The Jobcenter can then refuse or withdraw the benefit in whole or in part under § 66 SGB I — so the payment is not merely reduced but can be stopped completely. Only once you catch up on your cooperation must the benefit be provided retroactively under § 67 SGB I, provided the requirements are met.

Concealing changes in income, assets or housing

§ 60 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 SGB I obliges you to report changes in circumstances without delay — even if you believe them to be insignificant. If the change only comes to light at the renewal or during a data comparison, the Jobcenter revokes the approval under §§ 45, 48 SGB X in conjunction with § 40 SGB II and reclaims the benefits wrongly provided under § 50 SGB X. The claim can be offset against ongoing benefits and can then burden your budget for months.

Submitting the application without proof of receipt

Whether the application was received while still in the old month decides the retroactive effect and therefore a complete month’s amount. Anyone who puts the application in the letterbox without confirmation, or hands it in at the counter without obtaining a receipt, cannot prove receipt in the event of a dispute — the burden of proof usually lies with you. So have a copy stamped, save the confirmation page of the online portal, or choose an Einwurf-Einschreiben.

Applying only for yourself instead of for the Bedarfsgemeinschaft

The application generally covers all members of the Bedarfsgemeinschaft; under § 38 Abs. 1 SGB II it is presumed that the applicant represents the other members. Anyone who leaves out information about a partner or children triggers queries, delays the decision for the entire household and risks a benefit being set too low. Since the approval period is set uniformly under § 41 Abs. 3 Satz 3 SGB II, a gap for one person affects everyone.

Filing the new notice away without checking it

Errors in the accommodation costs, in the standard needs rates or in the way income is taken into account only come to light if you actually work through the figures in the notice. An objection is only possible within one month of notification (§ 84 Abs. 1 SGG); after that the notice becomes final and can only be corrected under strict conditions. So check it immediately after receipt — and, if in doubt, lodge an objection to preserve the deadline; you can give the reasons for it later.

Frequently asked questions

When do I have to submit the renewal application?

There is no statutory application deadline in the SGB II. It is recommended to submit the application two to four weeks before the approval period expires, so that payment continues without interruption — this is a practical recommendation, not a legal obligation. Legally, the only decisive factor is that you submit the application within the month for which you need benefits, because under § 37 Abs. 2 Satz 2 SGB II it takes effect retroactively to the first of that month.

Does a payment gap arise if I submit the application too late?

Not automatically. § 37 Abs. 2 Satz 2 SGB II stipulates that the application for benefits to secure subsistence takes effect retroactively to the first of the month; an application from 20 May therefore gets you benefits from 1 May. A final gap only arises once a full calendar month passes without an application, because under § 37 Abs. 2 Satz 1 SGB II no benefits are provided for periods before the application was submitted. In practice, the payment can nevertheless be delayed by a few weeks due to a late application.

Is Bürgergeld now called Grundsicherungsgeld?

Yes. Since 1 July 2026, the benefit to secure subsistence under the SGB II has officially been called Grundsicherungsgeld (§ 19 Abs. 1 Satz 1 SGB II); it was renamed by the Act on the Restructuring of Basic Income Support for Jobseekers, which is coming into force in stages. The new name changes nothing about the renewal procedure, and notices that still refer to Bürgergeld remain effective until the end of their approval period.

Do I have to use a form for the renewal application?

No, a particular form is not prescribed. Under § 37 Abs. 1 SGB II, benefits are provided on application, and this application can be made informally — in writing, recorded in person at the Jobcenter, or electronically. The Federal Employment Agency’s form speeds up processing because it asks for all the necessary information; however, you can submit it later without losing the earlier date of application.

For how long is the renewal granted — twelve or six months?

Under § 41 Abs. 3 Satz 1 SGB II, approval is usually granted for one year. However, Satz 2 provides that the approval period is, as a rule, to be shortened to six months if a provisional decision is made (§ 41a SGB II) or if the expenses for accommodation and heating are unreasonable — the latter affects a great many households once the grace period has ended. Under Satz 3, the approval period is set uniformly for all members of the Bedarfsgemeinschaft.

Do I really have to submit all documents again?

The scope is not set uniformly across the country, but follows the obligation to cooperate under § 60 SGB I: the Jobcenter may demand all evidence relevant to calculating the benefit. The Federal Employment Agency provides a shorter form for the renewal, while approved local authorities under § 6a SGB II use their own forms. Which evidence your Jobcenter specifically requires can be found in the letter — a blanket statement that only changes need to be proven is not true in every case.

Can I apply for the renewal online?

The Federal Employment Agency operates an online portal, jobcenter.digital, through which the renewal application can also be submitted; the legal basis for electronic applications is § 36a SGB I and § 9a of the Online Access Act. Not all Jobcenter offices are connected: approved local authorities under § 6a SGB II sometimes use their own portals or only accept applications in writing. Whether your Jobcenter offers the online route depends on the competent authority.

What can I do if the Jobcenter has not decided by the start of the new period?

If your entitlement is established in principle and only the calculation of the amount is taking longer, the Jobcenter must pay an advance on your application (§ 42 Abs. 1 SGB I); the advance payment begins at the latest after one calendar month has elapsed since the application was received. If the amount is still unclear, a provisional decision under § 41a SGB II also comes into consideration. If the Jobcenter remains inactive, you can apply for interim legal protection at the Sozialgericht (§ 86b SGG).

What are the consequences if I do not submit requested documents?

If you fail to meet your obligations to cooperate under §§ 60 ff. SGB I despite a written request and a warning of the consequences, the Jobcenter can refuse or withdraw the benefit in whole or in part (§ 66 SGB I). If you subsequently cooperate, the benefit must be provided retroactively under § 67 SGB I if the requirements are met. If, on the other hand, you conceal income or other changes, the Jobcenter can revoke the approval and reclaim the benefit (§§ 45, 48, 50 SGB X in conjunction with § 40 SGB II).