Arbeitslosengeld: when it is in your account

Pick the month you receive unemployment benefit for: the tool shows the day the money is available to you, and the whole year.

Time left until Arbeitslosengeld for November, 1 December 2026

33days23hrs0min0sec

Arbeitslosengeld for November 2026

Tue 1 December

In arrears: available on the first working day of the following month.

First day of the next monthTue 1 December
Weekend or holidayno weekend, no holiday
Where the date comes fromcalculated from the statutory rule
How this is calculated
Arbeitslosengeld 2026: available from
For the monthIn your accountWeekday
January2 February 2026Monday
February2 March 2026Monday
March1 April 2026Wednesday
April4 May 2026Monday
May1 June 2026Monday
June1 July 2026Wednesday
July3 August 2026Monday
August1 September 2026Tuesday
September1 October 2026Thursday
October2 November 2026Monday
November1 December 2026Tuesday
December4 January 2027Monday

Prepared by Radif Partners · Method · dates and statutes checked on 28 October 2026

Arbeitslosengeld, Germany's contributory unemployment benefit, is always paid after the event. Section 337(2) of Social Code Book III says ongoing cash benefits are paid monthly in arrears, so the money for October only arrives at the start of November. In leaflet 1, the Federal Employment Agency guarantees that you can use the amount on the first working day of the following month. For October 2026 that is 2 November 2026, because 1 November is a Sunday; for November it is 1 December 2026 and for December 4 January 2027, after New Year and the first weekend of the year. This sets unemployment benefit apart from Grundsicherungsgeld (formerly Bürgergeld), which comes in advance at the end of the previous month. Anyone newly unemployed therefore waits up to a month for the first payment. The benefit is worked out per calendar day, and under section 154 SGB III a full month counts as 30 days. Your bank statement shows which period was paid.

When unemployment benefit arrives in 2026 and 2027

For each benefit month, the table shows the day the money is available under the agency's guarantee: the first bank business day of the following month. The basis is section 337(2) SGB III and leaflet 1 for unemployed people.

Arbeitslosengeld: available on the first working day of the following month
Benefit for20262027
JanuaryMon 2 FebruaryMon 1 February
FebruaryMon 2 MarchMon 1 March
MarchWed 1 AprilThu 1 April
AprilMon 4 MayMon 3 May
MayMon 1 JuneTue 1 June
JuneWed 1 JulyThu 1 July
JulyMon 3 AugustMon 2 August
AugustTue 1 SeptemberWed 1 September
SeptemberThu 1 OctoberFri 1 October
OctoberMon 2 NovemberMon 1 November
NovemberTue 1 DecemberWed 1 December
DecemberMon 4 JanuaryMon 3 January

For the benefit months of 2027, the payment day is not the 1st of the following month in 3 cases, because that day is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday. A bank business day is any Monday to Friday that is neither a nationwide holiday nor a TARGET closing day.

Calendar days, not a monthly amount

Under section 154 SGB III unemployment benefit is calculated per calendar day. A full month always counts as 30 days, whether it has 28 or 31. If entitlement starts or ends mid-month, the agency pays the days of that month, again in arrears on the first working day afterwards. The award notice states the daily rate.

Unemployment benefit and Grundsicherungsgeld together

If unemployment benefit is not enough, the Jobcenter can top it up with Grundsicherungsgeld (formerly Bürgergeld). That is paid in advance, at the end of the previous month; the dates are on Grundsicherungsgeld payment dates. Both payment days alongside Kindergeld and pensions are listed on payment dates December 2026.

Unemployment benefit: your month

Arbeitslosengeld for January 2027

Mon 1 February

First day of the next monthMon 1 February
Weekend or holidayno weekend, no holiday
Where the date comes fromcalculated from the statutory rule
Open the full tool →

Common questions

When is Arbeitslosengeld transferred?

Monthly in arrears. The money for a month is available on the first working day of the next month. If the 1st falls on a weekend or a nationwide holiday, it is the next bank business day by our calculation. The agency itself sends the transfer a few days earlier.

Why does unemployment benefit come later than Grundsicherungsgeld?

Because the laws set different times. Arbeitslosengeld is an insurance benefit and is paid in arrears under section 337 SGB III. Grundsicherungsgeld is paid in advance under section 42 SGB II. If you receive both, you have two payment days a month.

When does the first payment come after registering as unemployed?

After the first month of entitlement, once the claim is approved. If your benefit starts on the 15th, you receive the money for half the month on the first working day of the next month. If the assessment takes long, the agency can make an interim payment under section 337(4) SGB III.

What if the money has not arrived?

The agency points out that it has no influence on delays in crediting. Wait one bank business day. If nothing arrives, check in the agency portal whether the payment was issued and whether your bank details are correct, and ask your local employment agency.

Keep going

Grundsicherungsgeld

Grundsicherungsgeld (formerly Bürgergeld): in advance

Bank business days 2026

By month, with holidays and TARGET

Dates December 2026

Christmas, New Year’s Eve, turn of the year

Payment dates 2027

Every benefit, month by month

Official sources for this page

Prepared by

Publisher of an independent calendar of German benefit payment days: child benefit, pension, basic income support, unemployment benefit, parental allowance, housing benefit and BAföG

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As of 2026, dates and statutes checked on