FAQs for artists 

FAQs Unemployment benefit: BÜRGERGELD (Citizen's Allowance)

Self-employed artists whose income is not sufficient to cover the minimum subsistence level can apply for benefit payments to secure their livelihood and accommodation.

On January 1, 2023, the BÜRGERGELD replaced unemployment benefit so-called "ALG II" (according to the SGB II). Anyone who is capable of working and in need of help is entitled to it.

Standard need

The standard needs are flat-rate amounts of money that are intended to cover everyday expenses for food and clothing, for example. The standard need for single people, single parents is 502 euros per month.

Costs of housing and heating

With the introduction of the citizen's income, the costs of accommodation, for example rent and ancillary costs, are covered in full in the first year (waiting period) and thereafter in an "appropriate" amount. In Berlin, for example, the appropriate gross cold rent for a household with 1 person is 426 euros.

Heating costs are generally only recognized in an appropriate amount.

Note: Electricity costs do not belong to the costs of accommodation. These are included in the standard requirement.

Further information: https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/arbeitslos-arbeit-finden/buergergeld

If you want to receive BÜRGERGELD as an artist, you must submit an application to the responsible "Jobcenter": https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/arbeitslos-arbeit-finden/buergergeld/buergergeld-beantragen

Further information: https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/arbeitslos-arbeit-finden/buergergeld

If you are a member of the bbk berlin and have problems with receiving or applying for BÜRGERGELD, please consult our lawyer first.

Yes. The gross income (income before taxes and duties) is decisive for the amount of the tax-free allowance.

Until July 01, 2023 applies:
The first 100 euros per month from earned income will not be offset (basic deduction amount).
In addition, 20% of the portion of gross income exceeding 100 euros up to and including 1,000 euros will remain free of offset.

In addition to the other two amounts, 10% of your gross income above 1,000 euros up to and including the upper earnings limit will not be offset. For beneficiaries without a child, the upper earnings limit is a gross income of 1,200 euros; for beneficiaries living in a community of need with at least one minor child, the upper earnings limit is 1,500 euros.

As of July 1, new allowances apply:
100 euros per month remain exempt.
Higher tax-free allowances mean that 30% of this may be retained in the case of employment with an income of between 520 and 1,000 euros.

Yes, but not permanently.

The basic requirement for membership of the KSK is a minimum annual income of more than 3,900 euros net, i.e. after deduction of all costs, coming from self-employed artistic activity. When drawing BÜRGERGELD, this minimum income is no longer reached on a regular basis.

The KSK is automatically informed about the respective health insurance if an artist is granted BÜRGERGELD.

Artists may, however, fall below the minimum income twice within six years (an additional three years are added for those starting out in the profession) without the KSK being able to terminate membership.

It is possible that the KSK may require proof in advance that the artist's profession is still being practised. Appropriate evidence (participation in sales exhibitions, fairs, contacts with galleries, museums, etc.) should therefore be collected so that you can present it if necessary.

If the minimum income is undercut in more than the above-mentioned years, the KSK will usually decide very quickly and stringently that the conditions for membership no longer exist and therefore terminate your membership.

At the latest, when you are threatened with exclusion from the KSK, application for legal advice is strongly recommended. If relevant, the prospective success of an objection and subsequent action before the Social Court should be examined.

Miscellaneous

Yes, voluntary unemployment insurance for self-employed persons should be applied for at the employment agency within three months of starting self-employment.

In order to be able to take out voluntary unemployment insurance ("compulsory insurance upon application"), among other things, you must meet one of the following two conditions:

  • Self-employed persons must have been in a compulsory insurance relationship for at least 12 months (e.g. as an employee, receiving sickness benefit subject to compulsory insurance, periods of child-raising) within the last 24 months before taking up their employment. It does not matter whether the relationship is a continuous compulsory insurance relationship or whether individual insurance periods are added together. Periods of voluntary continued insurance can also be taken into account. This makes it possible, for example, for employees abroad who become self-employed after their return to Germany to take out voluntary, continued unemployment insurance.
  • The applicant must have received a benefit payment from the Social Code III (e.g. unemployment benefit) immediately before the start of their self-employment. The duration of the payment is irrelevant.

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