Sperrzeit
In English: Benefit block
If you give up your job yourself, the Agentur für Arbeit pays nothing for 12 weeks. Signing an Aufhebungsvertrag counts, unless the company had announced a dismissal, the notice period is kept, and the severance is at most 0.5 salaries per year.
Watch out: A settlement in court does not trigger it.
Legal basis
SGB III §159, FW 159.1.2.1.1. Checked against the statute text on 12 November 2026.
Related terms
Open the simulator See Sperrzeit in action: work through a layoff case where it decides the outcome.
This page explains German employment law in general terms. It is not legal advice for your situation. If a layoff affects you, talk to an employment lawyer, your union or your Betriebsrat.