The Grundsicherungsgeld Application (formerly Bürgergeld) – The Main Jobcenter Form

The road to Grundsicherungsgeld — the basic support paid by the Jobcenter, until July 2026 called Bürgergeld — begins with a single document called the Hauptantrag (HA), the main application. Everything that follows depends on how carefully it is filled in: how soon a decision comes, how much is paid, and how many times you are called back to supply something missing.

This article accompanies a walkthrough that goes through the form field by field, and puts the official form from the Federal Employment Agency directly in your hands rather than through an intermediary.

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 this benefit is and who applies

Grundsicherungsgeld — called Bürgergeld before July 2026, and Hartz IV before that — is basic support for people living in Germany whose income is not enough to live on. The responsible office is the Jobcenter for your area, and the governing law is Book Two of the Social Code (SGB II).

What the video explains

• The main sections of the Hauptantrag and the order to work through them
• Entering your personal details and those of the household of need (Bedarfsgemeinschaft)
• The fields for housing, rent and heating costs
• What belongs in the income and assets sections
• The declarations you sign at the end of the application
• The documents normally required 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. Download it from the official source, and do not rely on an older copy found on some other site:

• Hauptantrag (HA) — official PDF
• Anlage EK, the income annex — official PDF
• Anlage KI, the child annex — official PDF
• Anlage VM, the assets annex — official PDF
• Anlage SV, the social-insurance annex — official PDF
• Anlage KDU, the housing and heating annex — official PDF
• Official completion guidance (Ausfüllhinweise) — PDF
• The download page for all official SGB II forms

Common mistakes that delay a case

• Leaving a field blank instead of writing “none” — a blank reads as missing information and the form comes back
• Naming family members in the main form without attaching the annexes that belong to them
• Entering the cold rent only, without the service charges and heating
• Leaving out occasional or temporary income — it surfaces later and money is reclaimed
• Signing without reading the declarations at the end of the form

Frequently asked questions

Where do I get the form?
From your own Jobcenter, or from the Federal Employment Agency using the link above. The form is the same across Germany.

Can I apply online?
Yes. The jobcenter.digital portal accepts online applications in many cities. The paper form remains available for anyone who prefers it.

How does this differ from the extension application?
The main application is for a first claim or after a break. Continuing payment after an entitlement period ends is done with the WBA extension form, which has its own walkthrough.

How long does a decision take?
There is no fixed period; it depends on the city and on whether the papers are complete. A complete application first time is the fastest route.

Please note: This page explains a form and does not replace the Jobcenter’s decision. Amounts and conditions change with the law; what binds is the decision (Bescheid) you receive.

Watch the video

The video is on the OK+ channel on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbba2vvO9Ro

Also on OK+

• Extending support – the WBA form
• 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