Letter Explained
English
← All guides

Understanding a decision from the Jobcenter

Last updated: October 2026

The Jobcenter sends you a decision granting benefits (Bewilligungs­bescheid). It says how much money you get and for what period. The letter is long, but a few parts are especially important.

Sample letter

Jobcenter Musterstadt · Am Markt 5 · 12345 Musterstadt
Herrn Emre Beispiel
Kastanienweg 11
12345 Musterstadt
Musterstadt, 20. Oktober 2026BG‑Nummer: 12345BG0071234

Bewilligungs­bescheid

Sehr geehrter Herr Beispiel,

auf Ihren Weiterbewilligungs­antrag vom 1. Oktober 2026 bewillige ich Ihnen und den Mitgliedern Ihrer Bedarfsgemeinschaft Leistungen zur Sicherung des Lebensunterhalts für die Zeit vom 1. November 2026 bis 31. Oktober 2027.

Die Leistungen setzen sich zusammen aus dem Regelbedarf und den Bedarfen für Unterkunft und Heizung. Die Berechnung finden Sie in der Anlage „Berechnungsbogen“.

Bitte teilen Sie uns jede Änderung Ihrer Verhältnisse sofort mit, zum Beispiel Arbeitsaufnahme, Einkommen, Umzug oder Änderung der Miete.

Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung: Gegen diesen Bescheid kann innerhalb eines Monats nach Bekanntgabe Widerspruch erhoben werden. Der Widerspruch ist schriftlich oder zur Niederschrift beim Jobcenter Musterstadt einzulegen.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Im Auftrag
K. Muster

Made‑up sender, made‑up names. The letter often looks like this or similar.

What does the letter mean?

The decision says: you get citizen’s income (Bürgergeld) for a certain period. Depending on the current rules, the benefit may also be called basic income support (Grundsicherung) in the letter. The period is at the top, in the sample one year. After that you must apply again.

The money has two parts: the standard needs (Regelbedarf) for food, clothes and everyday life, and the housing costs (Kosten der Unterkunft), meaning rent and heating. How the Jobcenter calculates this is in the calculation sheet (Berechnungsbogen) in the annex.

The sentence about changes is important. If something changes, you must tell the Jobcenter. Otherwise you may have to pay money back later.

Deadlines

  • Objection (Widerspruch) within one month after notification. The letter usually counts as notified a few days after the date in the letter. To be safe, count from the date in the letter. The deadline in your own decision is what counts.
  • The end of the benefit period: hand in the application for continued benefits (Weiterbewilligungs­antrag) in good time, so the money keeps coming without a break.
  • Report changes right away, not only with your next application.

What you can do

  1. Check the period and whether all people in your household are listed in the decision.
  2. Compare the rent and heating costs in the calculation sheet with your rental contract.
  3. Check whether income is entered correctly, for example wages or child benefit (Kindergeld).
  4. If something is wrong, you can object. A short objection saying "reasons to follow" (Begründung folgt) keeps the deadline. You can send the reasons later.
  5. Keep the decision and a copy of everything you send to the Jobcenter.
  6. If you have questions, social counselling (Sozialberatung) can help, for example at welfare organisations in your town.

This guide does not replace legal advice. Every letter is different: deadlines and amounts apply as they are written in your letter. If you have questions, an advice centre can help.

All guides