How to fill in the Hauptantrag (Bürgergeld / Grundsicherungsgeld, Germany)

What the form is for

This is the application for Leistungen zur Sicherung des Lebensunterhalts under the Second Book of the Social Code (SGB II): basic income support for people who can work but whose income does not cover their living costs. The Jobcenter says that since 1 July 2026 Grundsicherungsgeld replaces Bürgergeld. Some forms and letters may still say "Bürgergeld" for a while; this form already says "Grundsicherungsgeld".

The application consists of the Hauptantrag and several Anlagen (attachments). The Hauptantrag is about you: personal data, nationality and residence, the start date, your situation now and in the past five years, health insurance and who you live with. Which Anlagen you add depends on your answers.

You can also apply online at jobcenter.digital: there you fill in the application, the other Anlagen and upload proofs. On paper, the application has no fixed format: use this form with the matching Anlagen and send it by post or hand it in at your Jobcenter. If you cannot print it, you can ask the Jobcenter for the forms.

Who needs it

The Jobcenter decides every case. According to its website, these are the main conditions; this guide is not legal advice.

• You are at least 15 years old and have not yet reached the retirement age limit.
• You can work at least 3 hours a day (erwerbsfähig). People who are not employable can still get benefits if they live in a Bedarfsgemeinschaft (household community) with an employable, eligible person.
• You live in Germany and your centre of life is here.
• You are hilfebedürftig: you cannot cover your living costs adequately from your own means, or the income of your Bedarfsgemeinschaft is below the minimum living standard.
• Non-German citizens need to meet extra conditions. The Jobcenter lists, among others: self-employed or employed people; EU, EEA or Swiss citizens who worked in Germany before and are unemployed involuntarily; people from other countries with a residence permit that entitles them to the benefit. It lists as excluded: unlawful stay, a stay only to look for work, and people who receive benefits under the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz. For your own case, ask the Jobcenter; if you need an interpreter, tell them in advance.
• Already getting the benefit? When your approval period ends you need a renewal application (Weiterbewilligungsantrag); see the Jobcenter's page.

Before you start

• Proof of identity: Personalausweis, or a valid passport with a current Meldebescheinigung, or your Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit).
• Kontoauszüge (bank statements) of the last 3 months for all accounts of everyone in the household, complete and without gaps.
• Proof of income: payslips, and statements that show pensions, sickness benefit, Kindergeld or maintenance. Proof of assets only if the Jobcenter asks.
• For rent and heating: tenancy agreement, utility and heating bill, rent receipts (needed with the Anlage KDU).
• If it applies: the approval letter (Bescheid) of an earlier Jobcenter, and work papers such as a dismissal letter and an employer's certificate (Arbeitsbescheinigung) if you come straight from a job.
• Send copies only, never originals: the Jobcenter digitises the documents and destroys the paper after 8 weeks.

Section by section

Here is what each part asks, in plain words, in the order it appears.

1. 1

   Top of page 1: Jobcenter box

   "Dieser Abschnitt wird durch Mitarbeitende des Jobcenters ausgefüllt": date of application, customer number, BG number, office and team. Leave it empty.

2. 2

   A. Persönliche Daten (1 to 22)

   First name, surname, date of birth (TT.MM.JJJJ), birth name, place and country of birth, nationality and sex (Männlich, Weiblich, Divers, Keine Angabe), then your address (street, house number, postcode, town) and an optional P.O. box and phone number (the phone number is voluntary). In 15 tick Ja only if you have no fixed address, and give in 16 where you stay. Then the bank account: account holder, IBAN (22 characters for a German account), or, if you cannot give one, the reason why you cannot open a basic account (Basiskonto). Next: your pension insurance or social security number (vorhanden / nicht vorhanden / beantragt), your tax ID (Steuer-ID) and whether you have a legal guardian, an authorised person or a Vormund.

3. 3

   B. Weitere Angaben zur Nationalität (23 to 28)

   Do you hold a valid residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel; attach it)? Do you receive benefits under the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz (attach proof and the notice) and until when? Your Ausländerzentralregisternummer (AZR number), if you have one. Did anyone promise to pay all your costs in Germany (Verpflichtungserklärung)? Your national personal ID number from your home country, if you have one.

4. 4

   C. Antragstellung (29 to 31)

   From when do you want Grundsicherungsgeld: ab sofort (now) or ab einem späteren Zeitpunkt (give the date). If you lived abroad before, give the date you entered Germany.

5. 5

   D. Aktuelle Lebenssituation (32 to 50)

   Marital status (ledig, verheiratet, verwitwet, eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft, dauernd getrennt lebend, geschieden, aufgehobene Lebenspartnerschaft); if separated or divorced add the date and the Anlage UH1. Are you erwerbsfähig, a single parent, pregnant (due date)? If you are pregnant and not married, also fill in the Anlage UH2. If you are under 25 and a parent lives outside the household: Anlage UH3. Pupil, student or trainee (with proof; if "Nein" go on to 42), school book costs, living away from home. Other benefits applied for (BAföG, BAB, Wohngeld, Arbeitslosengeld, Rente, Krankengeld, Kindergeld, Kinderzuschlag, other). Special diet for medical reasons (Anlage MEB), disability and work-participation benefits, an unavoidable special need (Anlage BB), and any stay in an institution such as a hospital, care home or prison, with the type and the dates.

6. 6

   E. Bisherige Lebenssituation (51 to 75)

   Looks back: Bürgergeld, Grundsicherungsgeld or Sozialhilfe in the last three years (type, period, paying office), and in the last five years whether you were employed (periods; unpaid wages with the employer's address), self-employed, received a wage-replacement benefit (such as Krankengeld, Arbeitslosengeld, Übergangsgeld, Elterngeld), did military or voluntary service, or cared for relatives. If none of this applies, say how you paid your living costs. Then claims against third parties (for example damages, inheritance) and whether you were ever hurt by someone else (accident, medical error, assault): then the Anlage UF.

7. 7

   F. Kranken- und Pflegeversicherung (76 to 78)

   Were you, or are you, covered by the statutory health and care insurance as a family member or compulsorily insured? Name of the Krankenkasse with a current proof of insurance. In 78 answer Ja if you are privately insured, voluntarily insured in the statutory system or not insured at all, and then fill in the Anlage SV.

8. 8

   G. Wohnsituation (79 to 81)

   Do you live alone? If not, tick everyone you live with and add the Anlage for each: partner or spouse (WEP), unmarried children aged 15 to 24 (WEP each), children under 15 (KI each), parents (WEP each if you are under 25, HG each if you are 25 or older), other relatives (HG each), other people such as flatmates (the Jobcenter may ask for the Anlage VE). In 81, if you have housing and heating costs, tick Ja and add the Anlage KDU.

9. 9

   H. Erforderliche Anlagen

   The form lists what you attach: the Anlage VM (assets), once for the whole household; bank statements of the last three months for all accounts and all people; the Anlage EK (income) for each person in the household; the Anlage EKS in addition for the person who is self-employed; and the Anlagen from sections A to G that fit your situation.

10. 10

    I. Hinweise und Unterschrift (82 to 85)

    Read the notes: all details must be true and complete, and you must report changes (job, income, moving, people moving in or out, utility bill statements, tax refunds) at once. The Jobcenter compares data with other authorities. By applying you represent the whole Bedarfsgemeinschaft, so agree the answers with the others. Then date and signature in 82 and 83 (for a minor, the person with parental authority), and in 84 and 85 the date and signature of the guardian, if you have one. Under-25s may also be entitled to Bildung und Teilhabe (for example school lunch and school supplies); the check is made automatically with the application.

Common mistakes

• Forgetting an Anlage

  Every "bitte füllen Sie auch die Anlage ... aus" in the form is a real attachment: UH1/UH2/UH3, MEB, BB, UF, SV, WEP, KI, HG, KDU. The Anlagen VM and EK are always needed, EKS only for the self-employed.

• Incomplete bank statements

  The Jobcenter wants the last three months of all accounts of all household members, complete and without gaps.

• Sending originals

  Send copies. The Jobcenter does not need originals and destroys the paper after scanning.

• Waiting until everything is ready

  Proofs do not have to be sent with the application, only "as early as possible". Benefits are normally paid for the whole month of the application, so do not delay the form itself.

• Ignoring the "weiter mit" arrows

  Some answers tell you which question to continue with (for example "Nein (weiter mit 42)"). Skipped questions stay empty on purpose.

• Not reporting a change later

  After applying, tell the Jobcenter at once about a new job, extra income, a move or a person moving in or out. Wrong or missing information can lead to benefits being reduced, repaid or an investigation.