Education voucher (Bildungsgutschein): how funding under § 81 SGB III works

The education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) is the best-known funding instrument for vocational further training. The legal basis is § 81 SGB III. Funding is available to people who are unemployed or at risk of unemployment, if the training is necessary for their integration into work. For unemployed people, the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) also recognises this necessity if the training improves their employability and is appropriate in view of the labour market situation (§ 81 Abs. 1a).

The process step by step

• You arrange an appointment with your adviser at the Federal Employment Agency. If you receive benefits from the Jobcenter, contact the Jobcenter instead.
• The consultation must take place before the training begins (§ 81 Abs. 1 Nr. 2). Ideally, bring an idea of your training goal with you.
• If the requirements are met, the Agency confirms this by issuing the education voucher (§ 81 Abs. 4). It may be limited in time and restricted to a region or a specific training goal.
• You choose a course that matches the training goal. The provider and the course must be approved for funding (§ 81 Abs. 1 Nr. 3, § 176 SGB III).
• The provider submits the education voucher to the Agency before the course begins.

Pay attention to the expiry date on the voucher. Plan your registration so that the provider can submit it before the course starts. If it expires, you will need to speak to the Agency again.

What is covered

Under § 83 SGB III, training costs include course fees, travel costs, costs of accommodation and meals away from home and childcare costs. The Agency usually pays the course fees directly to the provider.

If you receive unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld), you continue to receive it during funded training as unemployment benefit for vocational training (Arbeitslosengeld bei beruflicher Weiterbildung) (§ 144 SGB III). For every two days of this benefit, your remaining entitlement is reduced by one day (§ 148 Abs. 1 Nr. 7 SGB III).

If the training leads to a vocational qualification with a training period of at least two years, there are additional bonuses of 1,000 euros for passing the interim examination and 1,500 euros for passing the final examination. Unemployed people also receive a training allowance (Weiterbildungsgeld) of 150 euros a month (§ 87a SGB III).

For employees

Employees can also be funded under § 81 if they are at risk of unemployment. If the employer and employee agree, the Agency may dispense with the voucher (§ 81 Abs. 4 Satz 4). For in-company training where there is no risk of unemployment, § 82 SGB III applies, with its own funding rates.