Unemployment benefit after a change in earnings

Hypothetical question to which I can't find an answer by searching:

I currently work full-time here in Germany and have done for the last 30 months. In January 2008 I will continue working for the same employer, but in a part time (3 days/week) capacity for which, of course, my pay will decrease. My question is, if I were to resign from this company after say 3 months part-time and wanted to claim Arbeitslosengeld (unemployment benefit), would the benefit I receive be calculated (60% I believe) on my final part-time income, or would my previous full-time income somehow be taken into account?

I'd ask the Finanzamp myself but I'm sure I'd get in a tangle because of language difficulties.

Based on this source, the Arbeitslosengeld is calculated based on the average salary of the last 12 months of employment:

http://www.anwaltseiten24.de/arbeitsrecht/...slosengeld.html

(The web page is not dated, so I am not sure if this is still up-to-date...)

The "Finanzamt" hasnt anything to do with that. You would have to contact the "Arbeitsagentur/ Arbeitsamt".
As far as I know your ALG I is calculated as 60% (if you dont have children) of the average wage of the last 12 months. But according to SGB III §130(3) Nr. 2 you could try to demand that they use the last 24 months because of "unbillige Härte".
§130 SGB III:


You have to demand that! Im not sure if they would even tell you...

See what I mean? I've even got the wrong 'amt'!

Thank you both for the very helpful replies...

Out of curiosity, what percentage could you recieve (full time work) if you have children? (3 children if that makes a difference).

67 percent with at least one kid, according to the law:

Can you leave the country when you are unemployed (less than 3 months of absence of course).

Thanks

If you are asking about your visa situation - I dont know. But if it´s about unemployment benefits, consider this:
You are getting this benefits, while you are looking for a job. You obviously cant look for a job in germany while you are out of the country. They (Arbeitsagentur) want to see proof that you are actually making an effort and they will also try to find jobs for you. They will try to contact you regularly and if you fail to keep an appointment you have to bear the consequences. On the other hand you have the right to go on vacation (only a certain time), but you have to tell them when and how long.

Why dont you just ask the people at the "Arbeitsagentur" - it´s their job to answer those kind of questions...

Thanks Freising.

Well when I can get precise answers in a fast and efficient manner from people like you in English language, why should I bother contacting people who are tough and annoying to communicate with.

Yes, that's why we post in this forum

We're all making efforts to improve our German language skills I'm sure, but trying to comminicate directly with the likes of the Arbeitsamt would, for me at least, be next to impossible.

cruiser

You have no choice because you´re bound by law to communicate with them. Mind you, it´s the "tough and annoying" Arbeitsamt people who make the final decisions re your unemployment benefits and vacation plans ... not the friendly, helpful English speaking forumites.

This is true of course, but for the purposes of gathering information before having to confront the beaurocrats in an unfamiliar language, these forums are invaluable. This is what I meant

if you have unemployment benefit in an EU country you can tranfer it to another EU country for up to three months to enable you look for work in that country.

Terms and conditions apply.

Ask at your "work office".

There is probably more info on europa.eu or elsewhere on the infraweb.