Receive funding for activation and professional integration measures from the job centre
The job centre can promote measures to support you in your professional (re)integration and improve your chances of integration into the labour market. The specific aim of these activation and vocational integration measures is to
- To introduce you to the training and labour market and to identify, reduce or remove obstacles to your professional integration,
- To find you employment subject to compulsory insurance,
- Introduce you to self-employment or
- to stabilise your entry into employment.
You can take part in measures with an organisation or an employer.
The job centre can commission providers to carry out the measures and allocate you a place to participate.
However, you can also receive an activation and placement voucher from the job centre to register with a provider of your choice. The voucher contains details of the aim and content of the programme, which will be discussed and agreed with you in advance.
The maximum possible duration of support depends on the objective of the measure and your individual support needs and is partly regulated by law. For example, measures can take place with an employer for a maximum of 6 weeks. If you are long-term unemployed or have particular barriers to placement, you can participate for up to 12 weeks.
The vocational skills training programme may not last longer than 8 weeks. Longer qualification programmes or measures that lead to a vocational qualification can be funded for adults via the vocational training voucher scheme (Bildungsgutschein).
The job centre will inform and advise you about offers and funding opportunities.
There is no legal entitlement to funding. Your job centre will decide whether and to what extent you will receive support.
Responsible authority
Job centre
Details
Prerequisite
- You receive basic security benefits.
- The need for support was determined in a discussion with your integration specialist.
- Participation was approved by the job centre before the start of the measure.
Procedure
Funding for an activation and vocational integration measure must be approved by your job centre before the measure begins.
- Please arrange a personal consultation appointment with the job centre responsible for you.
- In a joint meeting, your integration specialist will discuss the necessary support requirements with you and advise you on the right type of measure.
- If the decision is favourable, you will receive the approval documents with details of the type, aim, content of the measure, duration and scope of the measure and which costs will be covered.
- If your participation is not approved, you may have to bear the costs of the programme yourself.
Deadlines
There is no deadline. Contact your integration specialist at the job centre in good time before the planned start of the measure.
Required documents
- Support declaration form
The need for support must be determined in a discussion with your integration specialist.
Costs
None
Miscellaneous
Further information can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Federal Employment Agency.
Legal basis
Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB) Zweites Buch (II) - Bürgergeld, Grundsicherung für Arbeitsuchende:
- § 16 Leistungen zur Eingliederung
Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB) Drittes Buch (III) - Arbeitsförderung:
- § 45 Maßnahmen zur Aktivierung und beruflichen Eingliederung
Release note
Machine generated, based on the German release by: Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (BMAS) und Wirtschaftsministerium Baden-Württemberg, 21.07.2025