Anyone who works is entitled to paid vacation. Those receiving basic income support are not entitled to paid vacation; instead, they must be available to the Job Center. With the agency’s approval, however, it is still possible in many cases to travel for up to 21 days a year without having benefits reduced. In all cases, the prerequisite is that the Jobcenter has approved the “absence from the locality,” as it is called in the law. Sometimes difficulties arise because an appointment or a course falls exactly during the time of a planned trip.
The reason for travel plays a major role
The decisive factor is whether someone wants to travel “for a valid reason” or “without a valid reason.” According to the Social Code, “valid reasons” include, for example, rehabilitation measures, participation in a church or union event, integration measures, or volunteer work. In such cases, the absence is approved. In all other cases, the situation is somewhat more complicated. If someone wants to travel “without a valid reason”—for example, to go on vacation or visit relatives—the decision is always made on a case-by-case basis.
There are clear rules regarding this: “Approval is not possible in the case of upcoming counseling appointments, measures that are starting or currently underway, integration courses, or the possibility of starting a job,” the Tübingen Job Center stated in response to an inquiry from tuenews INTERNATIONAL. Absence from the area “without good cause” is approved if it does not conflict with any support measures provided by the Job Center. “The decision regarding an absence from the area without good cause always depends on the individual situation of the benefit recipient in conjunction with the support measures provided by the Job Center,” the Job Center further explains. By the way: the three-week absence limit per calendar year also includes Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
Apply in a Timely Manner
Anyone who wants to travel must first obtain approval. “To allow the Job Center time to review the request, the absence should be applied for no earlier than two weeks (and no later than five days) in advance,” the Job Center writes. Ideally, this should be done via Jobcenter Digital or the Job Center app. Requests for absence are processed on a priority basis. Additionally, it is possible to schedule appointments at the reception area through the website.
In both cases, it is helpful to explain exactly why you need to travel and the dates of your trip. “Vague information is not acceptable here and will lead to delays.” Travel should not be booked until approval from the Jobcenter has been received. Anyone who travels with the Jobcenter’s approval must check back in there the day after returning to avoid the risk of having benefits reclaimed.
Rescheduling Only in Emergencies
Anyone who wishes to be unavailable to the Job Center “without good cause” cannot rely on the agency to simply reschedule. “Appointments cannot be rescheduled due to planned absences from the area without good cause,” the Job Center states. Whether an absence from the area is approved always depends on the client’s individual situation. If necessary, an appointment at the Job Center may be moved up if there are urgent reasons, such as a family emergency.
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