Additional earnings

Side income (Nebenverdienst) – how much extra you're allowed to earn in Germany depends very much on your situation.

Alongside your main job:

• 1 minijob (up to €603/month): completely tax-free, no social security contributions (except pension insurance opt-out)
• From the 2nd minijob: full social security liability!
• Inform your employer: mandatory! (but no permission required – prohibited only in cases of competition or exceeding working hours)
• Max. 48h/week in total (ArbZG)

On unemployment benefit ALG I (§155 SGB III):

• Allowance: €165 net/month
• Max. 14 hours/week (from 15h = no longer unemployed!)
• A higher allowance is possible if the side job already existed before unemployment

On citizen's income (Bürgergeld, SGB II):

• Basic allowance: €100/month completely exempt
• €100–520: keep 20%
• €520–1,000: keep 30%
• Minijob example €603: approx. €209 remains exempt
• No hours limit with Bürgergeld (unlike ALG I!)
• Young people (pupils, apprentices): COMPLETELY exempt up to the minijob limit

Obligation to report:

• On ALG I: report the side job to the Employment Agency IMMEDIATELY
• On Bürgergeld: report EVERY side job to the Jobcenter BEFORE it starts
• In your main job: inform your employer (an obligation under your employment contract)