Unemployment Benefit (ALG 1): Duration, Amount, and Waiting Periods 2025

Entitlement Duration: How Long Is ALG 1 Paid?

The duration of Arbeitslosengeld 1 (unemployment benefit I) depends on two factors: your insured employment period in the last 5 years before unemployment and your age when the entitlement arises. The basic rule: for every 2 months of compulsory insurance, you receive 1 month of ALG 1.

Table: ALG 1 Duration by Age and Insurance Period

The maximum duration of 24 months is only available if you are at least 58 years old and were employed with compulsory insurance for at least 48 months in the last 5 years.

Calculation Example: ALG 1 at 3,000 € Gross

Unemployment benefit amounts to 60% of the standardized net pay (Leistungsentgelt). With at least one child on your tax card, this increases to 67%. Here is a concrete example:

• Gross salary: 3,000 €/month (tax class I, no church tax, no children)
• Standardized net: approx. 2,060 € (after deducting wage tax, solidarity surcharge, and 21% social security flat rate)
• ALG 1 without child (60%): approx. 1,236 €/month
• ALG 1 with child (67%): approx. 1,380 €/month

The standardized net is calculated using fixed tables and may differ from your actual net pay. The calculation is based on the average earnings of the last 12 months before unemployment.

Waiting Periods (Sperrzeiten): When Is Entitlement Suspended?

In certain situations, the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) imposes a waiting period during which no ALG 1 is paid. The waiting period also reduces the total entitlement duration by one quarter:

• Voluntary resignation or settlement agreement: 12-week waiting period. This is the most common case. Exception: you had an important reason (e.g., workplace bullying, relocation to spouse).
• Late job-seeking registration: 1-week waiting period. You must register as a job seeker at least 3 months before your employment ends – or within 3 days if notice is shorter.
• Rejection of a job offer: 3 to 12 weeks waiting period, depending on frequency. Even rejecting a reasonable interview invitation can trigger a waiting period.
• Late unemployment registration: Note that the in-person unemployment registration (on the first day of unemployment) is different from the job-seeking registration. Omissions lead to reductions.

Supplementary Income During ALG 1

You may earn supplementary income while receiving ALG 1, but with restrictions:

• Tax-free allowance: 165 € per month is exempt from offset.
• Working hours limit: Maximum 14 hours per week. At 15 hours or more, you are no longer considered unemployed and lose your entitlement.
• Offset: Every euro above the 165 € allowance is deducted 1:1 from ALG 1.

Tip: Report every side job to the Agentur für Arbeit, including volunteer work. Omissions can lead to repayment demands and waiting periods.

Sources: SGB III §§ 136–164, Federal Employment Agency – Information Sheet for Unemployed Persons, as of 2025.

Calculate your ALG 1: Determine the exact amount and duration of your unemployment benefit with our Unemployment Benefit Calculator.