Extending Jobcenter Support – Filling In the WBA (Weiterbewilligungsantrag)

Jobcenter support is not granted indefinitely. It is approved for a fixed period that ends on a date written in your decision letter, and to continue beyond it you need the extension application (Weiterbewilligungsantrag – WBA).

The mistake most people make is not in filling the form in but in when they send it. Anyone who waits for the period to end and only then applies goes weeks without payment while the case is decided.

A note on the new name: from 1 July 2026 the benefit is called Grundsicherungsgeld, replacing Bürgergeld. It is the same benefit under a new name. Existing forms and online services stay usable, and decisions issued before that date remain valid. Many people — and at times the offices themselves — still use the old word, which is why both names appear side by side in this article.

What the WBA is and when to submit it

The WBA is the form that keeps an entitlement running after the approval period ends. It is shorter than the main application because it does not gather again what is already known; it asks what has changed. The practical rule: send it well before the period ends, not on its last day.

What the video explains

• The sections of the form and what each one means
• Updating the housing and rent details when they have changed
• Updating income: work, other benefits, any new payment
• Changes in the household: a birth, a marriage, someone moving out
• The up-to-date documents that go with the application

The official form and the responsible office

The official form is issued by the Bundesagentur für Arbeit; the current version is dated 04/2026:

• Weiterbewilligungsantrag (WBA) — official PDF
• The download page for all official SGB II forms

Common mistakes that delay a case

• Applying on the last day or later — payment stops until the case is decided
• Writing “no change” when the rent or the income has in fact changed
• Sending the form without the updated documents (payslips, the current tenancy agreement)
• Leaving out income that began in the middle of the previous period
• Forgetting the signature of one of the adults in the household of need

Frequently asked questions

Exactly when should I apply?
Well before the entitlement period ends. The end date is written in your latest decision letter (Bescheid); some weeks ahead is best.

Do I have to fill in the main application again?
No. As long as the entitlement runs on without a break, the extension form is enough. The main application returns after a break or a fundamental change.

What if I am late?
Apply immediately in any case. Being late may mean a temporary gap; not applying at all means a full stop.

Can it be submitted online?
In many cities, yes, through the jobcenter.digital portal. Check what your own Jobcenter offers.

Please note: Deadlines and conditions depend on your own decision letter and your city. What binds is what your Bescheid says.

Watch the video

The video is on the OK+ channel on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsxn7u_ZTrw

Also on OK+

• The main Bürgergeld application
• The income annex – Anlage EK
• Housing benefit – Wohngeld

A tool that shortens the road

The OK Plus DE app gathers German administrative calculators and form templates in one place, free, ad-free, in seven languages. Android and iPhone, from the same page:
Get the OK Plus DE app