For many foreigners, one of the best perks of living in Germany is the strong social safety net there to help you along the way.
From paid parental leave to support for the unemployed, the state is designed to step in if needed during the big transitions in your life, helping you with your own living costs or the cost of supporting your family.
If you want to apply for citizenship or permanent residency, however, you'll need to be careful about how much you rely on these benefits. In fact, your ability to support yourself and any dependent family members without state support is one of the main criteria for long-term residence and naturalisation.
That means that claiming certain types of social benefits can effectively bar you from becoming German - or at least make it incredibly difficult. Luckily, though, not every type of financial aid falls into this category.
Here's a rundown of what you can claim, and what you're best off avoiding, if you want to avert any potential problems with your application.
What types of social support can I claim?
As a general rule of thumb, if you or your partner are in full-time work, you should automatically be treated as someone who is able to secure their livelihood.
This also applies to people who have worked full-time for at least 20 months within the past two years.
READ ALSO: How much do you need to earn to qualify for citizenship in Germany?
Of course, your income also plays a role, and the citizenship or immigration office will likely ask for proof of living costs such as rent to assess how much they think you need to earn to support yourself and your dependents.
If you're a parent, the social benefits you receive to see you through your parental leave or while bringing up your children are all considered fine under German immigration law. That includes child benefit (Kindergeld), the child allowance (Kinderzuschlag), parental benefit (Erziehungsgeld) and the parental leave allowance (Elterngeld).
Support you receive for higher education or further training also won't hinder your citizenship application.
That means that recipients of Bafög, Germany's student loans system, won't be excluded, and neither with those who receive a Bildungsschein or training voucher from the jobcentre.
According to immigration specialists at Migrando, housing benefit (Wohngeld) and care allowance (Pflegegeld) are also permitted, though they won't be included as part of your income assessment.
The other types of benefits that are safe to claim are those you have already paid for through your social contributions.
That means that Arbeitslosengeld I, or unemployment insurance, is fine, as is Krankengeld (sickness leave pay) and your state pension.
READ ALSO: Could personal debt stop you from getting German citizenship?
Which benefits are a 'no-go' for citizenship?
According to German citizenship law, social benefits claimed under chapters two and 12 of the Social Security Code (SGB) - i.e. SGB II and XII - can disqualify applicants from naturalisation.
Simply put, you shouldn't aim to collect long-term welfare pay from the jobcentre or social welfare office (Sozialamt) if you plan to apply for German citizenship or permanent residency.
That includes Bürgergeld or Arbeitslosengeld II.
In addition, claiming so-called Sozialhilfe under SGB XII, which includes financial support and social services for people in difficulty, can also exclude you from naturalisation.
Having received these benefits wont always bar you from naturalising or gaining permanent residency, but it will make it considerably more difficult.
Migrants who came to Germany as guest workers are given some leeway in this regard, and there is some room to make a case for extenuating circumstances.
If you're struggling with your health or have duties as a caretaker, for example, it may be worth seeking legal advice on how to present your case to the authorities.
What happens if I'm unemployed?
Though being unemployed doesn't automatically stop you from becoming German, it could make your case a little more complicated.
If you receive Arbeitslosengeld I, you can still apply for naturalisation, but you may need to jump through some hoops to show that you're making an effort to find work.
According to Social Democrat (SPD) politician Hakan Demir, who worked on the new citizenship law, unemployed candidates are given a "prognosis" of how likely they are to rely on the state long-term.
"Here you must provide plausible evidence that you have made all the necessary efforts and will continue to do so to get a job again," Demir advises. "You could prove this, for example, by providing evidence of interviews you have taken or applications you have written."
In some situations, your application may be put on-hold until you can show evidence that you're back in employment - or even until you've completed a probationary period at your new job.
READ ALSO: When does Germany consider a foreigner to be successfully integrated?
In any case, the best thing to do is to focus hard on that job search and supply all the evidence you can to prove your determination. Alternatively, demonstrating that your spouse is able to support you and your family should be enough to convince the authorities that you won't need to rely on the state in the future.
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