Need help with Jobcenter Düsseldorf

Hello Adam, thank you for reaching out to us.
Please note that I have shorten your name to protect your data.
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It is a great start that you already found a minijob - congratulations!
Nevertheless, to answer your question more precise, I would like to ask you for how long have you already been in Germany? Did you work in Germany before where you also paid social security contributions?
I have reached out to a counselling to ask about your possibilities. May I additionally ask if you are registered at your aunts place in Neuss, so I know which institution will be responsible for you.
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Lastly, I found a volunteer translation organization in the area of Rhine district of Neuss: Sprachhelferpool. You can request their support 5-7 days before the actual appointment.
Happy if you get back to me. I will also let you know as soon as I have news.

Dear platform moderator,

First and foremost, I wish to express my sincere gratitude for your courtesy and the valuable website you kindly provided me with. This link will prove highly useful when I prepare to submit the necessary documentation for requesting Bürgergeld.

In the following paragraphs, I will provide a detailed description of my situation to ensure that I receive the utmost assistance from you. I will be dedicated and meticulous in examining and following each of your recommendations to avoid any potential errors.

Currently, my residence is registered at my aunt's address in Neuss. I have managed to transform my minijob into a part-time contract of 12 hours per week, working as a rider in Duisburg. Additionally, I have found a hostel in Duisburg where I will reside for a month to avoid any housing-related discomfort.

My objective is to obtain detailed information from the various local Jobcenters (Neuss, Essen, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Duisburg) regarding the rent limits and the size of accommodations that I might potentially rent. This information will be crucial for my Bürgergeld application, as it will allow me to narrow down my search more effectively.

However, this endeavor has proven to be extremely challenging, as the various Jobcenters have language limitations and do not provide services in English. Therefore, the option of a phone call or a face-to-face meeting with the institution has been ruled out.

I have sent over a hundred emails in the German language to the relevant Jobcenters, requesting a list of questions aimed at my accommodation search. Unfortunately, I have never received concrete responses and have often been redirected from one department to another. On one occasion, I even experienced a personal insult due to the use of a translator within a professional email.

The questions for which I need answers, which may vary from one Jobcenter to another, are as follows:

1. Welche Mindestanforderungen (wie Fläche, Mietkosten, Heizkosten, Stromkosten, Steuern usw.) muss eine gemietete Einzimmerwohnung erfüllen, um als förderfähig für das Bürgergeld zu gelten?
2. Welche Mindestanforderungen (wie Fläche, Mietkosten, Heizkosten, Stromkosten, Steuern usw.) muss ein Zimmer in einer Wohngemeinschaft mit anderen Mitbewohnern erfüllen, um für das Bürgergeld in Frage zu kommen?
3. Falls die Mietkosten für eine Einzimmerwohnung oder ein WG-Zimmer den gewährten Zuschuss übersteigen:
• Muss ich die Differenz bezahlen (Beispiel: Miete 600 € - Zuschuss 500 € = 100 € Miete, die ich monatlich tragen werde)?
• Oder würde der Antrag auf Unterstützung von vornherein abgelehnt?
4. Welche Dokumente und Informationen benötigt das Jobcenter hinsichtlich der Unterkunft, in der ich wohnen möchte, um das Verfahren für das Bürgergeld korrekt zu starten?
5. Viele Vermieter verlangen eine Kaution, die ich derzeit nicht aufbringen kann. Ist es möglich, vom Jobcenter ein Darlehen zur Deckung dieser Kaution zu erhalten?
6. Falls ich eine ideale Wohnung finde, die jedoch nicht möbliert ist und daher völlig leer steht: Gibt es eine Möglichkeit finanzieller Unterstützung für die Möblierung? Wenn ja, welche Beträge und Bedingungen gelten?
7. Wie hoch darf das monatliche Einkommen eines europäischen Arbeitnehmers mit Wohnsitz in Deutschland maximal sein, um für das Bürgergeld berechtigt zu sein?

With the following priority: Duisburg>Essen>Neuss>Düsseldorf>Köln

Thank you once again for your assistance and understanding in this particularly delicate situation.

Sincerely,
Adam

Thank you for getting back to me, Adam
As you already know with an italian citizenship you are allowed to stay within the EU without any further application of residence permit for 3 months, if your purpose is to look for a job.
There are very different information about the possibility to apply for Bürgergeld from EU citizens without any previous employment. Some say that you are only eligible to apply after you’ve worked and paid social security contribution. Some say that after 3 or 6 months an application for financial aid is possible. The european court hasn’t decided that clearly until now.
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At the end, you can apply for Bürgergeld if you are regular residing in Germany. However, there are additional requirements and conditions that must be met:
-Be indigent: Income and assets must be below a certain limit.
-Be capable of working: One must be able to work at least 3 hours a day.
Since you will start working a part-time job, it is very likely that, in case you will be approved to receive Bürgergeld, your income will be taken into account and your financial aid will be reduced accordingly.
However, you can try and apply. Additionally, you also have the opportunity to file an objection in case they reject your application.
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I can provide you our infopage about the requirements and the application process of Jobcenter and Bürgergeld.
Nevertheless, you should get in contact with your responsible Jobcenter. Since you are registered at your aunts place in Neuss, the local Jobcenter in Neuss should be responsible for you.
You can schedule an appointment with them and also request a translation from Sprachhelferpool to accompany you. Alternatively, you can also reach out to a migration counselling center. There are quite a few around the area of Neuss: https://bamf-navi.bamf.de/en/Themen/Migrationsberatung/ They can support you filling out the application forms.
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Lastly, I would like to give you a short answer to your questions, so you can get an overview:
1. Since you have not yet applied for Bürgergeld and are currently looking for an apartment, your situation is a bit more complicated. There is a difference if there is already an apartment or if you are looking for an apartment before receiving Bürgergeld. If you already rent an apartment before you applied for Bürgergeld, a rent of 581€ warm can be allowed in Düsseldorf.
If you are looking for an apartment, you have to involve the Jobcenter to approve your preferred flat. Only if they agree to cover the costs, you can sign the contract. The upper rent limit here is 528€.
2. Generally, shared flats are allowed if you can proof that your are separate households.
3. If your rent is higher, it might be approved but the difference can be deducted from your financial aid.
4. Jobcenter can take over the deposit but will provide it as a loan. They will very likely reduce your financial aid as well.
5. Additionally, there is the possibility to apply for financial support for the initial furniture. If the apartment has no furniture in it, you will need to prove which furniture are necessary and needed. It is very likely that you need to submit the invoices.
I hope this gives you an overview. You can read more about the different allowance on the provided link of Handbook Germany.
Please let me know if you have further questions.