Part of the topic: 💶 Taxes & salary
Lost your job in Germany? The checklist for the first days
A notice of termination starts several deadlines at once. Missing them can cost you money – for example a one-week blocking period for unemployment benefit, or the chance to challenge the dismissal at all. Here is what to do and in which order.
1. Check the notice and the end date
A dismissal must be in writing with a handwritten signature (§ 623 BGB). Check whether the statutory or contractual notice period was respected – our calculator shows the end date by length of service.
2. Register as a jobseeker within 3 days
You must register with the employment agency at the latest 3 months before your job ends – or within 3 days of learning about the termination if the time is shorter (§ 38 SGB III). Online registration is enough. Registering late can lead to a one-week blocking period.
3. Mind the 3-week deadline for a claim
If you want to challenge the dismissal, you must file a claim at the labour court within 3 weeks of receiving it (§ 4 KSchG). After that it is usually treated as valid. Trade-union members and people with legal-expenses insurance often get advice free of charge.
4. Be careful with termination agreements and resigning
If you resign or sign a termination agreement, the employment agency can impose a blocking period of up to 12 weeks on your unemployment benefit. Get advice before signing.
5. Report unemployment and estimate your benefit
Register as unemployed in person or online at the latest on the first day without a job. Unemployment benefit I is 60% (67% with a child) of a standardised net wage – estimate it with our calculator.
6. Severance: check the tax
A severance payment is taxed with the one-fifth rule, which lowers the progression. Calculate the net amount before you negotiate.
Keep copies of everything – the notice, your employment contract, payslips and the employer's certificate (Arbeitsbescheinigung) – the employment agency needs them.
Estimate your unemployment benefit →