What are insolvency benefits (Insolvenzgeld)?

You receive insolvency benefits as compensation for lost income (salary/wages). For the three months prior to the insolvency event, you are entitled to insolvency benefits in the amount of your secured net wage (= net wage on your payslip). You get this money once.

You must submit an application for insolvency benefits to the relevant employment agency no later than two months after the insolvency event. If you miss this deadline, you will not receive any insolvency benefits. You can complete the application electronically and submit it together with all documents electronically.

You will need the following documents for your application:

• Insolvency benefits certificate (from the employer or the responsible insolvency administrator),
• A copy of your employment contract,
• Letter of dismissal (if you have been dismissed by the insolvency administrator),
• The last 3 payslips,
• File reference number of the insolvency proceedings.

You can also submit the application for insolvency benefits in paper form. The form to do so can be found here: https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/datei/AntragInsolvenzgeld_ba013115.pdf