German · Jobcenter / Arbeitsagentur
You go to the Jobcenter to apply for benefit: what to say in German
You come to the Jobcenter to apply for support.
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How it's done. At the Jobcenter you apply for benefits (Bürgergeld) and look for work; you first need to book an appointment and documents and amounts are checked on site. Check current rules with the office.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Guten Tag, was kann ich für Sie tun?GOO-tayn tahk, vahs kahn eekh fyoor zee toon?
Good day, how can I help you?
YOU REPLY
Guten Tag, ich möchte Bürgergeld beantragen.
GOO-tayn tahk, eekh MYOKH-teh BYOOR-gehr-gelt beh-AHN-truh-gayn.
Good day, I'd like to apply for Bürgergeld.
Or say:Guten Tag, ich möchte einen Antrag auf Leistungen stellen.
GOO-tayn tahk, eekh MYOKH-teh IGH-nayn AHN-truhk owf LIGHS-toon-gayn SHTEH-layn.
THEY SAY
Haben Sie schon einen Antrag ausgefüllt?KHAH-bayn zee shohn IGH-nayn AHN-truhk OWS-geh-fyoolt?
Have you already filled in an application?
They might also say:
Haben Sie den Antrag schon ausgefüllt?
KHAH-bayn zee dayn AHN-truhk shohn OWS-geh-fyoolt?
Have you already filled in the application?
2
YOU FINISH
Nein, ich brauche Hilfe beim Ausfüllen.
Nighn, eekh BROW-kheh KHEEL-feh bighm OWS-fyoo-layn.
No, I need help filling it in.
THEY SAY
Gern. Nehmen Sie bitte Platz. Ich gebe Ihnen das Formular.Gehrn. NEH-mayn zee BEE-teh plahts. Eekh GEH-beh EE-nayn dahs for-moo-LAHR.
Gladly. Please take a seat. I'll give you the form.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Guten
GOO-tayn
adjective
good (in greetings)
Tag
tahk
noun
day
kann
kahn
verb
can
tun
toon
verb
to do
möchte
MYOKH-teh
verb
would like
Bürgergeld
BYOOR-gehr-gelt
noun
citizen's benefit
23 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Ich spreche noch nicht gut Deutsch.
Eekh SHPREH-kheh nokh neekht goot doych.
I don't speak German well yet.
Können Sie das bitte aufschreiben?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh OWFSH-righ-bayn?
Can you write it down, please?
Similar situations
You are asked to bring documents to the appointmentJobcenter / Arbeitsagentur · A2 in the app
→You say you are looking for work and ask for helpJobcenter / Arbeitsagentur · A2 in the app
→You cannot come to the appointment and let them knowJobcenter / Arbeitsagentur · A2 in the app
→You have started a mini-job and report it to the JobcenterJobcenter / Arbeitsagentur · A2 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report