Object to Bürgergeld, pension or Kindergeld decisions

Decisions from the job centre, pension insurance or family benefits office are often wrong. Objecting costs nothing — but the deadline is short and the right term depends on the authority.

The deadline: one month

You must object within one month of notification (§ 84 SGG). A decision sent by post is generally deemed notified on the fourth day after posting. If instructions on legal remedies are missing or wrong, the deadline extends to one year (§ 66 SGG).

Who is responsible?

Bürgergeld: objection (Widerspruch) to the issuing job centre.
Pension: objection to the pension insurance body (e.g. Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund).
Child benefit: here it's an Einspruch — child benefit is tax law (§ 347 AO). Also one month, addressed to the Familienkasse.

Reasons can follow later

What matters is that the objection arrives in time. You can add reasons later — write "reasons to follow" and request file inspection to check the calculation (see requesting file inspection).

Hand dropping a letter into a yellow mailbox on an autumn street — What counts is receipt by the authority — not the date on the letter.

Sample text

Dear Sir or Madam,
I hereby lodge [an objection / an Einspruch] against your decision of [date], ref./insurance number [number]. Reasons: [reasons or "I will submit reasons after inspecting the file."] I request that the decision be revoked or amended.
Yours faithfully

Form and sending

In writing with signature, or recorded in person at the authority. Plain email usually isn't enough. Send by Einwurfeinschreiben. More: sending an objection by post. Applying for child benefit: child benefit template.

Note: Free help is offered by social associations such as VdK or SoVD. This article is not legal advice.