Hartz4 savings booklet

- Assets, that will be demonstrably used for the imminent
purchase or improvement of an adequate house
or
- For a freehold flat, in case this is also (not exclusively!) used
for the residence of disabled people or people in need of care.
The timeframe for an “imminent” purchase of a property is one
year, in which at least a pre-contract will have to be signed or a
plan to be drawn up. Furthermore, it is not required that the
disabled person is part of the household in need: they can be
fiancées, grandchildren, grandparents, foster parents or children,
siblings, uncles, aunts, nephews or nieces of the person
receiving the unemployment benefit (ALG II) .
- Reasonable household effects that are no particular luxury and
are intended for the daily use
- Assets, that are used for taking up or continuing a training or a
gainful employment
Any other kinds of assets are not protected, should they exceed
the previously mentioned tax-free allowances.
Integration agreement
In Germany, integration agreements are mainly applied in the
field of integration of recipients of the unemployment benefit ALG II
into the employment market. There, a public law contract is being
concluded between the Employment Agency (“Agentur für Arbeit”)
or an accredited local provider (“Optionskommune”) and the person
eligible for benefits. In this field, the conclusion of an integration
agreement is usually mandatory. Since the 1 st if April 2011 - in
contrast to the former legal situation - a person eligible for benefits
who refuses to sign an integration agreement, will receive no
penalty.
The agency can, however, rule the integration also unilaterally
through an issuance of an administrative act instead of an
integration agreement.
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