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Healthcare System in Germany – Complete Explanation for Better Relocation

7 July 2020 by flexygpt.com

The healthcare system in Germany is excellent, but the familiarity with the substructure is one of the most important checkboxes you need to tick in your relocation checklists before planning that move. This helpful guide will cover the basic information you need about the healthcare system in Germany.

Overview of the healthcare system in Germany
Health insurance in Germany
Healthcare costs in Germany
Registration for healthcare in Germany
Hospitals and Pharmacies
Healthcare for Women
Dental Insurance
Emergency Services

Overview of the healthcare system in Germany

To begin with, all Germans and legal residents of Germany are entitled to free “medically necessary” public healthcare, funded by their social security contributions. However, citizens should still have either state or private health insurance cover for hospitalization, outpatient medical treatment, and pregnancy. It is legally mandatory for everyone in Germany to have health insurance coverage whether public or private depending on their incomes.

The development of Health Policies in Germany is done by the Federal Ministry of Health and the sector is regulated by the Joint Federal Committee.

The healthcare plans in Germany are divided into two sectors – Public Healthcare System i.e. Government’s Healthcare Plans and Private Healthcare System

Public Healthcare Scheme (gesetzliche Krankenkasse, GKV)

The public healthcare system in Germany covers treatments and services, such as immunizations, prescriptions, and dental checks across the country. This sort of national coverage facilitates low average healthcare costs in Germany contributing as an effective healthcare system in the world.

Public Health Insurance Costs in Germany

Salaried workers in Germany with gross monthly income less than 5,213 EUR and gross annual income less than 62,550 EUR as of 2020, must have public health insurance.

Even if you earn more than 62,550 EUR, you can continue with the public health system, as a voluntary user and agree to pay the maximum premiums.

Germany’s healthcare contribution costs are 14.6 to 15.6% of the total income, which equally split between the employer and the employee. An additional “Contribution rate” is charged by the state German health insurer at an average of 0.9%, paid solely by the employee.

Non-working dependents living at the same address and registered with the German Authorities are covered at no extra cost. Pensioners and people who receive unemployment benefits or assistance are also eligible for state healthcare.

Public Healthcare Registration

Generally every employer will register you with a regional German health insurance company. You are free to choose the insurer of your choice, and can do so by informing your employer within a definite period of starting work.

In other cases, when you need to arrange your own German health insurer you simply need to register with the German authorities at your local town hall. Factors to consider before opting are the insurer’s contribution rate, additional services, ease of contact, or availability of English-language information.

Once you’re registered with a social security number and begin your premium payments, you will have access to public healthcare with your health insurance card (Krankenversichertenkarte).

GKV maintains the list of all state German insurance companies to compare health insurance rates.

Public Health Insurance Coverage in Germany

The Public Health Insurance covers you for primary care with registered doctors, hospital care (in and out), and basic dental treatment.

Public Health Insurance however does not cover consultations with private doctors, private rooms in hospitals, alternative or complementary treatments such as dental implants, glasses/contact lenses for adults.

Private Health Insurance Scheme (Private Krankenversicherung or PKV)

The Private Health Insurance Scheme is limited to a set of people, you are only eligible to apply if you fall in the below criteria list:

An employee earning more than 62,550 EUR annually as of 2020
Self-employed
Working part-time and earning less than 450 EUR a month
freelance professional
Artist
A civil servant or certain other public employees

Private Health Insurance Costs in Germany

Unlike State Health Insurance which are priced based on your income the private health insurance costs are rather risk and patient profile based which might increase with age, health risks and added family members.

If you are eligible for private insurance, you can change from public to private health insurance but, you have to opt-out of the State health insurance first—you cannot have both.

Private health insurance entitle you to services and facilities not covered by public scheme, such as private healthcare, private hospital rooms, dental implants and complementary therapies.

Private Healthcare Registration

The application process for private health insurance is quite complicated as it might require you to take medical tests, answer questionnaire concerning your medical history and submit a proof of income.

Most private insurers in Germany require you to pay medical costs upfront and then claim reimbursements, whereas public insurance usually covers everything upfront through your social security contributions.

The health insurance costs from private providers widely varies according to profiles, you can compare private health insurance providers in Germany on this website PKV.

Some of the top private insurance providers contact can be found through the list of members of PKV.

It is mindful to always inquire which treatments and hospitals do your insurance company cover with the cost coverage percent as Co-payments have been increasing for certain treatments and medicines in Germany. In some areas such as dental, orthodontic treatment, and optical care, state health insurance only covers a small portion of the cost.

Hospitals

All the German states share responsibility with the central government for hospital provision in the Healthcare system in Germany.

There are three types of hospital (Krankenhauser) in Germany:

Public hospitals (Offentliche Krankenhauser) – run by local or federal state authorities. These include Germany’s university hospitals. Most number of hospitals in Germany are Public Hospitals.
Voluntary charitable hospitals (Frei gemeinnutzige Krankenhauser) – run by churches or German Red Cross organizations.
Private hospitals (privatkrankenhauser) – run by private companies.

You should take your German health insurance card when you visit. Generally, the hospitals in Germany charge a daily fee of about 10 – 15 EUR with additional costs for diagnostics, surgery, and other medical procedures. Children aged under 18 years of age do not have to pay any costs.

It is important to note that hospitals have a certain amount of definite space allotted to patients with public insurance and with private insurance but the medical treatment for both public and private insurance holders is almost identical. Patients with private healthcare can demand to be treated by one of the hospital’s chief doctors and there are some private clinics that are open only to patients with private health insurance.

Hospitals in Germany do not provide personal items. You would be required to bring your own bathrobe, toiletries, and slippers.

German websites like DocInsider.de and Jameda.de can be of assistance to find doctors based on ratings from other patients.

Pharmacies and Medication

Prescription and non-prescription drugs can be easily obtained at pharmacies (Apotheken) and can refer this to search for local pharmacies.

Patients enrolled in the public health insurance scheme (with prescription on a pink slip of paper) have to pay only 10% of the costs i.e. about 5-10 EUR.

Private Insurance holders mostly get prescriptions on a blue sheet of paper which requires them to pay the full price of the drug up front and then send the receipt to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Healthcare for Women

Gynecologists are accessible in Germany through public health insurance. Public health insurance doesn’t cover most contraception costs.

Statutory insurance covers annual screenings for every woman aged over 20 for cervical cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer.

State health insurance also covers the basic costs of pregnancy and childbirth. However, additional costs may be applicable for the paperwork involved in giving birth.

Private health insurance holders in Germany should check with the insurer for details about medical care for mother and baby.

Healthcare For Children

Public health insurance covers children until the age of 18. Vaccinations for children in Germany are free.

Dental insurance in Germany

If you have state German health insurance, simple routine dental procedures (filling, dental hygiene) or dental emergencies are more likely to be covered with the dentists who operate within the statutory health insurance scheme.

Otherwise, dental work in Germany can be quite expensive, and would often require you to present a cost estimate to your insurance provider prior to getting treatment.

The coverage for dental work varies greatly depending on the procedure and the individual.

There is additional private health insurance available for dental treatment. This is usually presented as a top-up insurance option called Zahnzusatzversicherung or Zahnschutz-Zusatzversicherung.

Emergency Services

The primary responders in Germany for emergencies are – Emergency Medical Services (Rettungsdienst), Fire Services (Feuerwehr) and the police (Polizei).

Pan European Emergency Number – 112

Police – 110

Ambulance (Rettungswagen or Krankenwagen) – 19222

Non-emergency medical (doctor on call): 116 117 you can also visit the website for further details.

To find an emergency pharmacy call 0800 002 28 33 from a landline or 22 8 33 from a mobile.

Useful phrases:

Call an ambulance!: Rufen Sie einen Krankenwagen!

It’s an emergency: Es ist ein Notfall/dringend.

I’m in pain: Ich habe Schmerzen.

I need a doctor: Ich brauche einen Arzt.

I need a hospital: Ich brauche ein Krankenhaus.

There’s been an accident: Es gab einen Unfall.

Cost of living in Germany – Practical and efficient financial planning to consider before moving

4 July 2020 by flexygpt.com

Cost of Living Calculator

With one of the most highly developed social market economy, the actual cost of living in Germany is rather comfortable and settling for expats in comparison to its European brethren. As a matter of fact, the cost of living in Germany is almost as laid back as 10% in comparison to UK, France, Norway or Switzerland – other popular countries to settle in.

How much exactly would you need then, you ask?

Well, this question is very much dependent on the lifestyle you choose to spend on. Your requirements would mostly govern your budget, but the good thing is that Germany offers you a range of monthly expenditure beginning from 900 EUR to any number you can willingly afford

Accommodation (including and excluding utilities)
Grocery Expenses
Transportation
Healthcare
Dining out
Internet and mobile provider
Taxation

Except for the high end expenses, the cost of living can be determined based on the below mentioned factors to sustain a certain standard of living:

This article would provide an overview of the average costs for the above mentioned factors based on estimates for an individual. The item dependent pricing will be elaborately mentioned for making it easier for you to shortlist them according to your suitability and give you a clearer insight about your personalized monthly budget.

Accommodation

The first, foremost and largest expense in the cost of living is the housing budget. Though, it will vary according to the cities you decide to stay in and will be heavily dependent on the size and location of the property, we still present you the average costing for the most popular cities in Germany.

Cost of living in Germany — Finding Accomodation

Berlin

One of the most chic hangouts in the world. This city is the most popular city with expats in Germany.

Rent	400 EUR	800 EUR	1,500 EUR
Room type	Single Room in shared apartment	Approx. 50m² 2 bedroom apartment	Approx. 100m² 3-4 bedroom apartment

A single room in a shared apartment can begin at around 400 EUR and can be as much as 600 EUR per month. For a 2 bedroom apartment in a decent neighborhood and good location, the rent might average least 800 EUR including costs for water and heating. There can be additional expenses for the internet, TV, and electricity adding 100 EUR.

Hamburg

Hamburg is the second biggest city in Germany and interestingly boasts of more living space per person than all the other major cities in the entire world!

Rent	370 EUR	900 EUR	1,800 EUR
Room type	Single Room in shared apartment	Approx. 50m² 2 bedroom apartment	Approx. 100m² 3-4 bedroom apartment

Hamburg is the second most expensive city in Germany and the cheapest accommodation offered is in terms of shared rooms and rents. Flats and apartments begin at around 900 EUR and can go as high as 2000 EUR based on the size and location including utilities.

Munich

Munich easily showcases a large international community making life a lot easier for expats but at a higher cost.

Rent	600 EUR	1,200 EUR	2,000 EUR
Room type	Single Room in shared apartment	Approx. 50m² 2 bedroom apartment	Approx. 100m² 3-4 bedroom apartment

A single room in a shared flat will roughly cost 600 EUR and can escalate up to 900 EUR per month, more expensive in comparison to other cities. For an apartment with 2 rooms in a good neighborhood, you need to shell out at least 1200 EUR. A flat with 3 or 4 rooms and a separate kitchen can easily cost you 2000 EUR or more with dependent on location.

Nuremburg

Another impressive but a more relaxed option which offers a great lifestyle within your budget in Germany is Nürnberg (also known as Nuremburg).

Rent	300 EUR	700 EUR	1,200 EUR
Room type	Room in shared apartment	50m² 2 bedroom apartment	100m² 3-4 bedroom apartment

Frankfurt

As Germany’s financial capital, it’s a fairly expensive city to live in, with monthly rent averaging over 1600 EUR for a flat with utilities.

Rent	500 EUR	1000 EUR	1,600 EUR
Room type	Single Room in shared apartment	Approx 50m² 2 bedroom apartment	Approx 100m² 3-4 bedroom apartment

Grocery Expenses

The common single individual’s grocery consumption is estimated at around 50 EUR to 60 EUR per week but is again very much conditioned upon the taste and preferences of individuals.

Below listed is the typical pricing for essentials to let you customize your own weekly expenditure.

Item	Quantity	Price
Water	1.5 litre	0.43 EUR
Milk	1 litre	1.20 EUR
White Bread	500 g	1.34 EUR
White Rice	1 Kg	2.99 EUR
Regular Eggs	1 dozen	2.00 EUR
Local Cheese	1 Kg	8.32 EUR
Regular fruits	1 Kg	3.00 EUR
Regular Veggies	1 Kg	1.00 to 2.00 EUR
Chicken	1 kg	5.96 EUR
Beef Round	1 Kg	10.78 EUR
Wine (Mid-range)	1 Bottle	4.99 EUR
Domestic Beer	0.5 litre	0.84 EUR
Cigarettes	20 pack	6.40 EUR

Transportation

Moving around in Germany is usually by local trains, metro, trams, and buses. Germany also provides the flexibility to rent bikes on an hourly and daily basis. App-based cab services mostly operate in only some big cities. But, do not let it discourage you as there’s hardly any inconvenience because of the efficient public transport and hail taxi system.

Also, please visit the precise guide that helps when you move to Germany at GoTravelYourself. And it has helpful guides to travel around the Europe

Public transport:

A single ticket for public transport would cost you 2.8 – 3.4 EUR depending on the area. The tickets can be bought for individuals and groups (with discounts).

1 day ticket would cost you approximately 7 – 7.7 EUR

7-day ticket would be about 30 – 37.5 EUR

Taxis:

Taxis round to about 3.00 EUR fixed charge with addition of about 1.50 EUR per km and waiting charges of almost 30.00 EUR per hour.

Bikes:

A 2 hour rental would cost you about 6 – 8 EUR, going up to 10 EUR for 4 hours. Daily rental charges would be in the range of 12 – 14 EUR.

InterCIty Transportation:

The most prevalent express trains in Germany are the Deutsche Bahn – super-fast InterCity Express (ICE) trains. They zoom around the country at hourly and two-hourly intervals and link up all major cities.

The ticket pricing varies for different destinations but there are attractive discounts for short journeys and groups.

There are also three BahnCards offering reductions.

“BahnCard 25” – In which, you need to pay only three-quarters of the ticket price,
“BahnCard 50” – Pay half the ticket price
“BahnCard 100” – Simply pay the price of the card and nothing else.

Healthcare

Public healthcare

In Germany, every employed worker has to pay a statutory healthcare insurance contribution as part of their social security contribution.

Contribution by employee = 7 to 8% of total income.

Contribution by the employer = additional 7 to 8% of employee’s income

Total contribution = 14-16%

The maximum amount is capped at EUR683 (inclusive of both employee and employer’s contribution) a month.

Private Healthcare

Private healthcare is limited to only a set of individuals including freelancers, students over the age of 30, people earning less than 450 EUR, or earning more than 60,000 EUR.

As, the cost of private health insurance not regulated by the government, the expense mostly depends on insurance companies’ monopoly.

This creates an anomaly as for people deemed as low-risk patients, the premiums could be around 170 EUR whereas for high-risk patients or older people this could mount up to 1500 EUR per month.

Dining Out

Dining out can range between 8.00 EUR – 9.00 EUR for a meal at popular fast-food chains without discount coupons. But, a full three-course meal at a regular restaurant would cost you 12.00 EUR and go up as high as 25.00 EUR.

A piece of cake = 3 – 5 EUR
A pastry = 1.2 – 2 EUR
A croissant = 1.2 EUR
Pizza = 7 – 10EUR
Ice cream dessert = 6 – 7 EUR

Internet and Mobile

Prepaid phones offer good flexibility since you pay as you go. As you need more credit you simply buy recharge cards. The minimum amount of credit that you can add is usually EUR 5-10. And a minute of Prepaid Mobile Tariff (No Discounts or Plans) would cost you around 0.10 EUR.

The other option is a contract phone. These do offer lower calling rates and better deals on new phones but these prices can be estimated on the basis of your need, the monthly fee, the connection cost, and the minimum monthly consumption.

It is not really common in Germany to get data plans with unlimited mobile internet. Presently, there are two providers namely Telekom and O2, which offer unlimited data plans. The cheapest unlimited data offer is provided by O2 for 39.99 EUR per month and Telekom is a little bit on the expensive side mounting to 84.95 EUR/month.

Taxation

One another important aspect to include in your cost of living expenses is the taxation.

This would vary for individuals depending on their source of Income. It is advisable for you to go through the latest tax summaries to understand your tax rate and estimate your total cost of living in Germany accordingly.

You can refer the Complete guide to getting a Tax ID in Germany for a comprehensive insight of how to get started as a newcomer in Germany.

A detailed guide on German tax system can be found on Bundeszentralamt für Steuern .

Even if these numbers look a bit under or overwhelming, It is very important to remember they only provide the comprehension of a personal budget to form an overview of the financial planning required and are definitely not the guidelines to live by!

Top 10 Popular German Meat Dishes

3 July 2020 by flexygpt.com

Germans enjoy rich and heavy home-cooked meals keeping meat at the center of most meals, however, each area of Germany has its own definition of their traditional food. The cuisine is tasty, unique, and when you think meat you think Germany. They serve meat at every midday meal including evening meals and often at breakfast.

Let’s have a look at popular German meat dishes in Germany

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Sauerbraten (Roast Beef Stew):

Germans love for meat dishes made Sauerbraten one of the country’s national dishes. This German pot roast is a delicious stew of tender beef marinated in wine, vinegar, spices, herbs for days, or even weeks. This also involves the pickling of the meat in a sweet and sour gravy, finally cooked into a dish. It usually comes with red cabbage and potato dumplings.

Schweinshaxe (Pork Knuckle):

This German cuisine is made from the end of the pig’s leg, just above the ankle. This peasant food includes inexpensive cuts of meat which usually take a long time to cook. The meat is marinated for days or weeks and roasted at low temperatures for long hours. Traditionally, these pork knuckles are served with mashed potatoes or red cabbage.

Eintopf:

This German stew is made in a pot using a large number of ingredients. Remember the old school saying: don’t waste food, this cuisine exactly comprehends. There is no particular recipe or restriction of ingredients. The German love for meat is undeniable and they include different varieties like beef, pork, or chicken.

Rouladen (Beef Roll):

To make this roll thin strips of meat are rolled around bacon, onion, pickle, and mustard. Originally pork was used to make this roll although now beef is widely in use, also chicken makes it taste great. These are also filled with a variety of ingredients, such as vegetables, cheese, and other meat browned and slow simmered in a rich gravy with red wine to get a dark rich flavor. It is served with bread dumplings and pickled red cabbage.

Schnitzel (Breaded Cutlet):

Traditional German schnitzel is made with pork, the technique of breading and frying thin cuts of meat. This is a popular Austrian dish. The cutlet is coated in bread crumbs with cheese and ham sandwich. It is served with spatzel and gravy, pommel, or potato salad. When served plain, it is garnished with parsley and slice of lemon.

Kassler:

Traditionally Kassler is made with cured and smoked pork, so easy and quick to make. The challenge is identifying the right piece of cut. Pork neck and lions are often used, however ribs, shoulders and bellies can also be used. It is pan-fried, grilled, added to soups and stews. It is a delicious combination with cabbage dishes and with cold German beer.

Laberkase (Meat Loaf):

This is a type of meatloaf made from pork. This is the most popular cuisine in South Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This German-style meatloaf is made by grinding beef, pork, bacon with a rich flavor containing onion powder and coriander. You can eat it warm or cold, also you and slice it and fry. This appetizing meatloaf is widely served as a snack with bread and mustard.

Hesenpfeffer:

This German stew is conventionally marinated for days or weeks with rabbit or hare in wine, vinegar, and lots of spices. Bite sized parts of the rabbit are roasted and braised with onions. It is then highly seasoned with herbs, juniper, black pepper, and cloves. It goes well with potato dumplings, noodles, and vegetables.

Labskaus:

Soaked beef is boiled in water then combined with beetroot, gherkins, and onions. This mixture is steamed and mixed with mashed potatoes. Its bright red comes from beetroot juice, stew seasoned with pepper and salt, and serves best with rollmops and fried eggs.

Spaetzle:

Spatzle is basically condensed egg noodles dumpling made from flour, salt, white pepper, and nutmeg. Eggs were added to the mixture and made into dough. Spaetzle can be made ahead and stored for a couple of days and reheated. Toss them in some melted butter and its delicious. It is served with creamy sauce, mushrooms, onions, cheese, and potatoes.

Let us know if you have tried these German meat dishes in the comments. Make sure to follow our facebook page to keep up to date with the latest information

10 benefits from government – corona recovery plan

1 July 2020 by flexygpt.com

Coronavirus outspread across the Globe has shaken the lives as well as the economies of all countries. The Federal Government announced to support us with a large-scale 130 billion Euro stimulus package as a corona recovery plan and various measures such as emergency aid, short-time working compensation, flexible interpretations of additional earnings regulations, or the use of parking spaces to expand the gastronomic potential.

10 benefits from government as corona recovery plan:

VAT reduction – corona recovery plan:

From 01.07.2020 the Federal Government will reduce the VAT rate from 19% to 16% (or from 7% to 5%) until the end of the year. A lot of items will be cheaper in supermarkets, brick and mortar stores, online. Already, you must be receiving emails from your internet, electricity providers. This can be the best time if you are looking to purchase the products.

300 € Euro additional child benefit – corona recovery plan:

As a major aspect of the Federal Government’s Corona Recovery Plan, all parents entitled to child benefits will receive a one-off child bonus of 300 Euro in 2020, paid out in two installments of 200 Euro in September and 100 Euro in October.

Bonus payment of up to 1,500 Euro tax-free – corona recovery plan:

The Federal Government wants to support companies and employees in this difficult Corona pandemic and has ensured that such payments up to 1,500 euros are tax-free this year. Employers can now pay subsidies up to an amount of up to 1,500 euros tax-free to their employees. Ask your employer is willing to support you with a tax-free extra payment during this Corona pandemic and short-time work. More details in German

Corona emergency aid for students upto 500 euros per month:

Most of the students make living by working as part time workers in restaurants, super markets, etc. And these students jobs are temporarily closed during the lockdown.

The Federal Government wants to support the affected students by monthly bridging aid of up to 500 euros. Students benefiting from loans, scholarships, or similar in the relevant month are not excluded from applying for interim financial aid. Depending on the proven need, between 100 euros and 500 euros can be paid out as a non-repayable grant.

Applications can only be filed separately for the months of June, July, and August 2020. A new application in – and for – a new month will only be admissible if the student is still eligible to apply. Students can submit an application on the Student Help Association (Studentenwerk)

Mandatory tax return for short time workers – corona recovery plan:

The tax is free for short time workers in general. Still, in the following year after receiving it, the law requires you to file a tax return. Every employee, who received more than a total of 410 Euro in wage replacement benefits (e.g. short-time working compensation or social security and parental allowance) has to file a tax return for the year 2020 in 2021.

Despite being tax-free, wage replacement benefits are added to your taxable income, which is the amount used to determine your individual tax rate. Therefore, receiving short-term working compensation can lead to an increase in the calculated tax burden, which results in a subsequent payment to the tax office. Therefore, employees who received wage replacement benefits in 2020 should save some additional money on their bank accounts to be prepared for the potential additional payment.

Increase of short time work compensation -corona recovery plan:

Due to the Coronavirus, the government has decided to set an additional incentive for companies and employees alike, making the additional pay by the employer tax- and deductible free from March 1st to December 31st, 2020 as part of corona recovery plan. The only condition is that short-term working compensation plus add on pay combined make up a maximum of 80% of the missed-out compensation package (the difference between gross wage and the reduced gross wage due to short-time work). Everything above that 80% threshold is taxed at a normal rate.

Tax benefits for cross border commuters:

Due to Corona pandemic a large number of border commuters cannot commute to work as usual and work from home.

The Federal Ministry of Finance announced working days at home due to the Corona pandemic can be billed as normal working days in the neighboring countries i.e. Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and France. More details in German.

Environmental bonus for the purchase of climate- and environment-friendly electric vehicles:

As part of the corona recovery plan, The purchase of sustainable electric vehicles is now more strongly supported by the government. The existing environmental bonus for the purchase of an electric car has doubled from 3,000 Euro to 6,000 Euro. This applies to all e-vehicles with a netlist price of up to 40,000 Euro. For the time being, the subsidies will be eligible until 31.12.2021.

Quarantine due to Corona and continued payment of salary – corona recovery plan:

If, as an employee, you are subject to a professional employment ban under the Infection Protection Act or are not allowed to work due to official quarantine, you are exempt from the obligation to work.

You will receive compensation equal to your net salary for the first six weeks paid by your employer. The latter can recover the money by application from the local health authority. With a longer quarantine, you will continue to receive the compensation but it is paid by the local health authority depending on the amount of your entitlement to sickness benefit.

Check your tax class and optimize the level of short-time working compensation:

The amount of short-time working compensation can be dependent on your tax class. Therefore, married couples and parents should do some research on whether a change in tax class might make sense for them.

In Germany, married people have the choice of whether to file their tax returns individually or ask for a joint calculation of the tax burden. When doing a joint declaration, there is also the opportunity to pick a tax class (III, IV with factor, V) for each partner. The person earning more money usually picks class III or IV due to more potential tax deductions.

However, during the Corona crisis, the partner doing short-time work should pick the lower-taxed class (class III or IV) to benefit from more short-time working compensation. The reason is that the calculation of short-term working compensation is based on the net salary, which is higher when choosing a tax-privileged class.

Top 5 delicious desserts you must try in Germany

26 June 2020 by flexygpt.com

Wondering which desserts to try in Germany? Here is the list of German delicious desserts that you should definitely try.

Germans have great love and respect for sweet treats combined with a passion for local and seasonal ingredients. Enjoying various kitchen with afternoon coffee or tea is a deeply ingrained cultural practice and the overall daily lives of the people include many traditional specialties catering to one’s sweet tooth.

When it comes to delicious desserts, Germany has a vast and rich culinary heritage. From simple fruit tarts to decadent bundt cakes our selection of authentic German delicious desserts will surely satisfy your sweet tooth.

Delicious Desserts:

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Lebkuchen (Gingerbread Cookies)

A true German Christmas favorite. If there is one thing you will find at pretty much every German market, its Lebkuchen. These are a version of gingerbread cookies with dark chocolate coating, nuts, or powdered sugar. The German gingerbread is often found in the shape of a heart and decorated with cute pet names or words of encouragement.

Marmorkuchen (Marble Cake)

The marble cake is the super moist easy cake recipe baked in a bundt pan marbling two different colored batters into a cake. Wondering making two different batters Surprisingly you don’t need two completely different batters to make a marble cake. You simply take one-third of vanilla batter and mix with melted chocolate and cocoa powder and bingo that’s your chocolate batter. It also tastes luscious when paired with pineapple, guava, coconut cream, Bavarian cream, or vanilla buttercream fillings.

Apfelkuchen (Apple Cake)

A kind of apple cake that everyone loves. It is great for people who are new to baking and has a high apple to cake ratio. The apples are soaked in sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice and then baked into buttery pastry mixture. It is a great companion with coffee or sweetened whipped cream and usually served as an afternoon dessert.

Schwarzwalder kirschtorte ( Black Forest Cake)

The hugely popular dessert around that made German’s culinary skills known to the world. It is full of cherries, chocolate, liquor, and whipped cream. Traditionally, kirschwasser, a clear spirit made from sour cherries are added to the cake. Sometimes rum is used commonly in Austrian recipes.

Zimtsterne (cinnamon star)

Christmas simply isn’t Christmas without these German ‘cinnamon star’ cookies. You can find them in any grocery store and Christmas market around Germany, also in Austria and Switzerland. These cookies are made from a combination of almost entirely groundnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts, topped with icing.

Let us know if you have tried these tempting delicious desserts in the comments. Make sure to follow our facebook page to keep up to date with latest information.

Complete guide to unemployment benefits in Germany

19 June 2020 by flexygpt.com

It’s a dream of many to work and settle in Germany and live a better life. But sometimes, it turns upside down and it is sad when someone has to face a jobless situation. However, unlike some countries, the German federal government offers one of the best unemployment benefits under certain conditions.

Types of unemployment benefits in Germany

Unemployment benefit I (Arbeitslosengeld I)
Unemployment benefit II (Arbeitslosengeld II)

Unemployment benefit I (Arbeitslosengeld I)

If you lose employment and you have contributed to the German taxes, then you are eligible for unemployment benefit I. See below to know how much you can claim based on taxes you paid in previous years

How much you can claim?

You will get 60% (without children) of your net salary from your previous earnings. If you have children, then you are entitled to get 67%. The amount of time for unemployment benefits depends on the age and contributions you made in employment. Your health insurance also will be covered by unemployment benefits.

What happens to Health Insurance if I lose the job?

Insurance is mandatory in Germany and you need to have one even with or without a job. So, you still need to pay for your health insurance provider which is expensive when you are jobless. For this, you need to register in the unemployment office and inform your insurance provider as soon as possible.

If your age is < 55 and worked for 12 months: 6 months unemployment benefit
If your age is < 55 and worked for 24 months: 12 months unemployment benefit
If your age is > 55 and worked for 48 months: 24 months unemployment benefit

How can I apply for unemployment benefit I?

To receive unemployment benefit I, you must register as unemployed. Follow the below steps to apply

1. Registering as a Job Seeker:

You can apply for unemployment benefits in advance if you know in advance in the below situations. Arbeitsagentur allows you to apply earlier and avail benefits as you can plan for searching for the next job accordingly. The unemployment registration can be done before the unemployment (a maximum of three months before).

If you are fired and serving a notice period
If you are fired without notice period
If your company went bankrupt and cannot pay employees

You can apply online here

2. Register in person:

You know that you will be losing the job and registered as a Jobseeker. Now, it’s time to register in person on 1st day of your unemployment. Check with your residence postal code and visit a person to apply for unemployment benefits. Don’t forget to take the below documents along with you

A valid id or passport
City registration
Valid visa
Notice of dismissal(Termination letter) or fixed-term employment contract if applicable
CV
Insurance card

3. Fill application form online:

After you finished with the above 2 steps, it’s time to fill out the application form Antrag auf Arbeitslosengeld. You can get this form from Arbeitsagentur or you can fill online.

You can also calculate how much money you will get based on taxes paid in previous years. Calculate here

Once done, you will receive the post within 2 weeks. Also, you will be invited to meet the counselor and talk about the steps you have taken to search for the job.

Unemployment benefit II (Arbeitslosengeld II)

Unemployment benefit II (“Hartz IV”) is received by people who live in Germany legally in the long-term (i.e. German citizens, under certain conditions EU citizens, or non-EU citizens in possession of a residence permit) if they are older than 15 years, not yet of retirement age and fit for work. In addition to the (cash) benefits to secure existence, recipients of unemployment benefit II are entitled to help with reintegration into the job market.

If your immigration as an EU citizen was exclusively to seek work, you will receive no unemployment benefit II. In this particular case, you could have a claim to social welfare. However, if you take at least marginal employment, you can receive supplementary benefits in accordance with the Social Security Code II. More info you can find here

FAQ:

What happens to Health Insurance if I lose the job?

I lost my job and my blue card is going to expire, Will my blue card be extended with unemployment benefits?

Yes, you can extend your Blue Card/Residence permit. Check with Auslandebehörde and request an extension. Make sure you carry all the required documents (documents received from unemployment benefits)

I worked less than a year, Can I apply for unemployment benefits?

It totally depends on the Arbeitsagentur office. As per requirements, you need to work at least 12 months to avail of the benefits. However, it’s worth giving a try

COVID19 virus update – Coronavirus Germany

7 June 2020 by flexygpt.com

Coronavirus outspread across the Globe has shaken the lives as well as the economies of all countries. In that context, Germany is no exception. As of today ie., 7th June more than 185K cases were recorded while 8700+ died.

Except for a few industries such as FMCG, HealthCare, Pharmacy & partially financial services rest others are beaten badly, and at this point in time it’s hard to predict complete recovery. Travel & Hospitality, Automotive & Mobility industries bore the maximum brunt & are still struggling.

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Many companies to cut down the operational costs & longterm sustenance have forced employees to reduce working hours (aka Kurzarbeit) & few companies laid off employees when their revenue streams drained completely. The German Automotive industry like other countries continues to struggle due to weak global demand & climate action much before Coronavirus. The lockdown indeed accelerated the crisis & many industries are at the verge of collapse.

Like Automotive, Aviation & Mobility industries are also facing an existential crisis. Few Low-Cost Carriers have already gone bankrupt & layoffs in news are not new anymore. Big carriers such as Lufthansa agreed the bailout package (€9bn) from the German government. But, not all air carriers received State support.

The tourism & Travel industry struggled the most with almost bookings close to zero due to coronavirus. While countries imposed Travel ban, EU borders closed by member states, traveling within Europe has become impossible & as a result of this, the industry suffered severely. During the Easter holidays, the lakes around Germany would be busy but this year the trend is broken & the lakes were empty.

Tegernsee lake in Germany during lockdown

Although neighbour states suffered heavily because of high mortality rates, Germany has had low mortality rates because of great healthcare system, timely response by the administrative departments and most importantly young people who got infected while they were on ski-vacation in Tirol and those attended Venice carnival.

Exit Strategy of Coronavirus::

As the situation evolves, it has become clear, we all have to live with Coronavirus until a safe vaccine is in place. Governments too have realized this and decided to resume Life & Business as usual with exit strategies. Few federal states in Germany have made masks mandatory while commuting with public transportation, in supermarkets & retail stores. Restaurants & beer gardens have been opened with social distancing instructions. Open pools, gyms will be opened from 8th June with more or less similar social distancing measures.

Kronthaler Weiher — People relaxing at a lake in Bavaria on a sunny day

EU borders will be reopened from June 15 and international travel would probably be resumed from July or early August to kick-off business activities.

Economic package and aid by the Government ::

The German government has announced a 130 billion Euros stimulus plan to kickstart the hard-hit industries of Coronavirus. The measures include VAT cuts from 19% to 16% starting July 1st, 300 euro bonus per child, reduced levy on electricity costs, aid on social security contributions, rebate on electric cars.

The ministry of Economics has proposed a 5 billion Euro Car Bonus Scheme to boost automotive sales as the industry is in deep crisis. In addition to this Germany has announced 50 billion Euros Future Package to invest in future innovations on climate protection. Hope these measures would help the German economy to rebound, helps the industry to retain jobs.

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Everything about Family Reunion Visa Germany

4 June 2020 by flexygpt.com

Citizens of countries that are not member states of the European Union can bring their dependents with them to Germany through a family reunion visa. You can apply visa for Germany if you are married to a foreign national who holds either a residence permit, a Blue Card EU, an ICT Card, a permanent settlement permit or a permit for permanent stay in the European Union and if you and your spouse are both at least 18 years old.

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Family members eligible for family reunion visa:

Spouse
Children
Parents
Registered partners
Under certain conditions, other family members

Requirements to apply family reunion visa:

If your family member residing in Germany must fulfill the following requirements to bring their family members to Germany

Should be residing in Germany for more than 6 months (If less than 6 months, apply dependent visa)
possession of a settlement permit or a valid resident permit or EU Blue card
Health insurance
Financial proof to support partner
Must be able to provide sufficient living space
An additional letter from employer stating of unlimited employment (optional)
at least 18 years old.

Family Reunion Visa Germany Checklist for spouse:

The below documents are required for family reunion visa for spouses

Please prepare two identical application sets consisting of copies of the above-mentioned documents and bring all your original certificates along. Please DO NOT staple any documents.

Family Reunion Visa Germany Checklist for minors:

Procedure to apply family reunion visa:

Prepare the documents as mentioned above
Book an appointment at the German embassy based on your region
Pay visa fees. The visa fees cost around €75 for adults and €37.50 for children up to 18 years

FAQ:

Should I pay document verification fees before the Interview?

Not needed at the time of the visa interview. In some cases, the visa can be approved without document verification fees and some cases not. If required, you will be notified to pay an additional amount for document verification after the visa interview.

Should I apply for health insurance?

Everyone residing in Germany requires health insurance. If your partner has Public health insurance then it is covered for the entire family. Your partner has to send an email or get a confirmation letter from insurance provider stating partner is also covered and you can submit same at the time of visa interview.

How long does it take to get visa approval?

Usually, it depends on document verification and location. It takes up to 3 months to get visa approval. Just be with patience 🙂

Can I work on family reunion visa?

Ofcourse, you are eligible to work in Germany if you partner meets the following requirements

holds a Blue Card or resident permit that authorizes to work
working as a highly-skilled person or researcher.

Can I bring my parents to Germany for longer period?

You can bring your parent(s) to Germany on a long term visa if any of the conditions below are met

If you have only a single parent and parent needs support from their children
If you are young and live alone in Germany, then it may possible to bring both parents or a single parent
If the person is young and is recognized as a refugee or has a subsidiary protection status and still does not have a parent authorized as a custodian in Germany, then he/she can bring their parent(s). The person should also either provide evidence of sufficient income or living space so that the parents are permitted to follow

Unless one of the conditions above is met, the law does not allow bringing parents for longer or permanently.

Moreover, you can still bring anyone (not just parents) to Germany for 3 months on a tourist visa (Schengen visa).

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8 key points to make a perfect resume | Germany

3 June 2020 by flexygpt.com

A perfect resume is an essential tool to help you initiate a discussion with HR or headhunter. In Deutschland, curriculum vitae is thoroughly scrutinized by the hiring manager & HR before they proceed with the candidate. Hence, writing the CV in German format adds a lot of weight to your profile & makes it easier for the person to get a good understanding of your skillset, experience, strengths, and so on.

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Key points to make perfect resume:

Based on my successful interactions with multiple employers I would like to recommend the below pointers to make a perfect resume:

You don’t necessarily need to have your CV in the German language unless & until you are very good at it. Mere translation of English to German using online translators would be irreparable damage to your profile. It is more or less watching English movies with Hindi or any of our regional language subtitles.
Find someplace on your CV to upload your passport size as Germans expect photographs. Of course, the photograph should be more professional.
While mentioning your years of experience try to round off to the nearest integer. For example, if you have 5.1 years of experience, do not put 5.1 as it doesn’t make sense to the hiring manager with 0.1 factor. The same goes for 5.9 as well, feel free to round off to 6.
Include your linguistic skills and I’m very sure you will be asked about German language skills during interviews even though you apply for English speaking jobs. Despite having basic German skills, feel free to highlight in the CV. Something is always better than nothing!
Clearly outline your work experience & education details in a crisp, concise & compact way having the organization, project details, skills, your roles & responsibilities.
Do mention your hobbies as Germans are keen to know your free time activities just to know how social you are.
Keep resume in short, not more than 2 pages.
Don’t add same roles and responsibilities if you worked for multiple companies. Make it as a summary and add projects, companies you worked for.

Templates for making perfect resume:

I would suggest you try online templating websites to create make perfect resume/CV as they have many space-efficient templates. Few I could suggest are :

https://novoresume.com/ ( Elon Musk uses this :))

https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/documents/curriculum-vitae

https://lebenslauf.com/

It is good to include LinkedIn, skype-account, GitHub, StackOverflow profiles as they show your interest in the community. Particularly in my case, I’m asked about my free time projects & StackOverflow community and contributions.

Disclaimer: The above pointers are my sheer inferences with the discussions I had with recruiters and more biased to IT profiles. However, it may vary heavily from case to case.

Complete guide to getting a Tax ID in Germany

29 May 2020 by flexygpt.com

The tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer) is a tax identification number. This series of numbers is assigned to a person permanently and is recognized as the national standard. Every employer asks for a Tax ID in Germany and every resident’s earnings are subject to a basic tax allowance, including researchers and scientists coming from abroad. Worried about how to get one? Let’s have a look.

In this guide, we look at the tax numbers in Germany and how to get yours.

The Tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer)
The Tax number (Steuernummer).
The VAT number (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer)

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What is Tax ID/Steueridentifikationsnummer?

Your tax ID number (Identifikationsnummer) is given to you by the Federal Tax Office of Germany automatically the first time you register in any given German city. It is an 11-digit number that you will use in order to gain employment in Germany. This Tax ID is also assigned to a newborn child in Germany upon registration.

The Tax ID must be included on all applications, declarations, and communications you submit to the German tax authorities. You will receive your tax ID automatically by post between two-to-four weeks after you register your address upon arrival in Germany.

What is Tax number/Steuernummer?

The tax number is assigned by the local tax office and will change if you move to e.g. another city. Being an employee you do not need to apply for a tax number. It will be assigned to you automatically when you file your tax return.

The VAT number (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer)

The Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer, USt-Identifikationsnummer or USt-IdNr. is the German term for the VAT number. It’s a 9 digit number with the format “DE123456789“.

This is only applicable to businesses. You also get a VAT number by filling the Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung. You will not get a number if you declare a small business (Kleintunternehmer), because small businesses do not need to charge VAT.

FAQ:

I lost my tax id, Can I find it again?

Check some of your documents like finanzamt or payslips from the employer. If you still cannot find it, do not worry. You can find it in one of these two ways

You can request Tax ID online again, but it might take up to 4 weeks.
Or simply head to your local Finanzamt with your identification in hand. And they will check your details and give you the details on the spot. Find your local Finanzamt with postal code.

When will I get the tax id after registration?

Once you arrive in Germany and complete your residence registration, you will get the tax id automatically within 2 weeks. If you need it immediately, head to the Finanzamt and provide your details to get it on the spot.

I live in abroad and receive wages from Germany, Should I pay tax in Germany?

If an employee does not live in Germany but receives wages in Germany, he is subject to limited taxation. In these cases, the German tax liability is only subject to domestic income, e.g. payment of remuneration from the LBV. Employees with limited tax liability are classified in tax class I. More information here

Tax number for freelancers?

Freelancers and those self-employed must apply for a tax number (Steuernummer) at their respective tax office. You will have to fill out a questionnaire and then, in a couple of weeks, you are the proud owner of your very own, brand-new tax number.

Those who run a commercial business do not have to apply for a tax number. The trade office (Gewerbeamt) automatically sends the tax office the respective tax number.

Additionally, income generated by freelance work is generally taxable for VAT (Mehrwertsteuer or MwSt).

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