Current for 2026•As of: July 2026

Unemployment Benefit Calculator Germany 2026 calculate ALG I.

Calculate your monthly ALG I: benefit rate 60% or 67% with a child, entitlement duration 6–24 months and total entitlement – free and GDPR-compliant.

FreeNo sign-upGDPR-compliant
€
500 €10,000 €

Personal details

years
18 years67 years

Increased benefit rate of 67%

Different contribution assessment ceiling

mo.
0 mo.60 mo.

Entitlement duration by age

  • Under 50: max. 12 months
  • From 50 + 30 mo. insurance: 15 months
  • From 55 + 36 mo. insurance: 18 months
  • From 58 + 48 mo. insurance: 24 months

Unemployment benefit I monthly

1,417.02 €

approx. 47.23 € daily

Entitlement duration

12

months

Total entitlement

17,004€

over the duration

Calculation details

Your gross salary3,500.00 €
Assessment income (daily)115.07 €
Benefit-relevant income (flat-rate)2,361.70 €
Benefit rate60%
ALG I monthly1,417.02 €

Net replacement rate

ALG I corresponds to approx. 40.5% of your previous gross salary.

In practice, ALG I replaces about 60-67% of net income.

Notes

  • • Benefit rate of 60% (no children in the household).
  • • Important: ALG I must be applied for with the Employment Agency at the latest on the first day of unemployment.

Calculation based on:

  • Flat-rate benefit-relevant income under §153 SGB III
  • Social insurance flat rate: 20%
  • Income tax per official payroll tax schedule, depending on tax class
  • Entitlement duration under §147 SGB III

Important note

These calculations are for non-binding information only and do not replace professional tax advice. All information without guarantee. Learn more

Sources & calculation basis

Our calculations are based on the following official sources (as of: July 2026):

Related guides

Bridging Unemployment

Unemployment benefit I 2026: everything you need to know

The unemployment benefit I (Arbeitslosengeld I, ALG I) is a benefit from the German unemployment insurance. It is paid to employees who have lost their job and have contributed to the unemployment insurance.

The benefit rate is 60% of the flat-rate net pay. If you have at least one child, you receive the increased benefit rate of 67%.

Requirements for ALG I

Registered as unemployed
You are without employment or work less than 15 hours per week
Registered as a job seeker
You have registered as a job seeker with the Employment Agency
Qualifying period met
At least 12 months of employment subject to social insurance within 30 months
Available
You are available to the labour market and can be placed in a job

How is ALG I calculated?

Example: €3,500 gross salary, tax class I, with a child

Example: €3,500 gross salary, tax class I, with a child
ItemAmount
Assessment income (gross)€3,500.00
- Social insurance flat rate (20%)- €700.00
- Income tax (flat-rate, incl. solidarity surcharge)- €444.30
Benefit-relevant income (net)€2,355.70
Benefit rate (67% with a child)x 67%
Monthly ALG I€1,578.32

These factors affect your ALG I

  1. Assessment income: Average gross salary of the last 12 months (capped at the contribution ceiling)
  2. Tax class: Affects the flat-rate income tax and therefore the benefit-relevant income
  3. Children: With a child you receive 67% instead of 60% of the benefit-relevant income
  4. Contribution assessment ceiling: West: €7,550/month, East: €7,450/month - anything above is not taken into account

Entitlement duration under §147 SGB III

The benefit duration depends on your insurance period (how long you have contributed) and your age. The older you are and the longer you have contributed, the longer you can receive ALG I.

Benefit duration by age and insurance period

6 months
With 12 months of insurance period, regardless of age
12 months
With 24 months of insurance period, regardless of age
15-18 months
From age 50 or 55 with 30-36 months of insurance period
24 months
From age 58 with at least 48 months of insurance period

Tips for optimization

  1. Tax class change: Switching to tax class III at least 12 months before unemployment can increase ALG I
  2. Register early: Register as a job seeker at the latest 3 months before your employment ends
  3. Use extra earnings: You may earn up to €165 per month without it being offset

The assessment income is based on your regular gross salary of the last 12 months – overtime pay is included, provided it was subject to income tax. Anyone who is paid out a lot of overtime shortly before termination thereby increases the assessment income and, in turn, the later ALG I. Our overtime calculator shows how much of cashing out overtime remains net.

Frequently asked questions about unemployment benefit

Everything important about ALG I at a glance

ALG I is 60% of the flat-rate net pay (benefit-relevant income). If you have at least one child and receive child benefit, you receive the increased benefit rate of 67%.

The benefit duration depends on your insurance period and your age. With 12 months of insurance period you receive 6 months of ALG I. With 24 months it is 12 months. From age 50 and a longer insurance period the entitlement can be up to 24 months.

Yes, the tax class affects the benefit-relevant income. Tax class III leads to a higher ALG I than tax class V. The change should happen at least 12 months before unemployment to be fully taken into account.

You may earn up to €165 per month without it being offset. Any earnings above that are offset against ALG I at 100%. Weekly working time must not exceed 15 hours.

ALG I is an insurance benefit from the unemployment insurance, for which you must have paid contributions. Bürgergeld (formerly ALG II) is a tax-financed social benefit for people without sufficient income or assets.

With a €3,000 gross salary, tax class I and no children, the 2026 flat-rate benefit-relevant income is approximately €2,078 (after flat-rate income tax and the 20% social insurance flat rate, § 153 SGB III). The benefit rate is 60%, i.e. approximately €1,247 per month. With at least one child (benefit rate 67%) it would be approximately €1,389 per month. Our unemployment benefit calculator determines your individual amount.

The calculation runs in three steps: 1. Assessment income: average gross salary of the last 12 months (capped at the contribution assessment ceiling West €7,550/month). 2. Benefit-relevant income: gross salary minus flat-rate income tax and flat-rate social insurance (21%). 3. Benefit rate: 60% of the benefit-relevant income (67% with a child).

The ALG I entitlement ends once the entitlement duration (6 to 24 months) has expired, when you take up employment subject to social insurance of more than 15 hours per week, if you reject a reasonable job offer (risk of a blocking period), or once you reach retirement age. After ALG I, Bürgergeld may apply.

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