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This allows these companies to retain their skilled workers and bridge periods of downtime financially: the Federal Employment Agency offers Seasonal Short-Time Allowance (Seasonal KUG).
The regulation applies each year during the bad-weather period from December to March.
Who is entitled to Seasonal Short-Time Allowance?
Seasonal KUG is aimed at businesses that primarily perform construction services and employ at least one worker.
Eligible companies include those in:
- the main construction industry
- scaffolding
- roofing
- landscaping and horticulture
You can find out whether your company is considered an eligible business — and which activities are included — in the overview provided in § 1 of the Construction Company Ordinance (Baubetriebe-Verordnung).
Can self-employed persons receive short-time allowance?
No, self-employed individuals cannot receive short-time allowance because they are not employed in jobs subject to social insurance contributions.
Even compulsory insurance upon application (“voluntary continued insurance”) does not create entitlement to short-time allowance.
However, if you have made use of the compulsory insurance option under § 28a SGB III, you are entitled to unemployment benefits.
In addition, if you have no or only very low income, you can apply for basic income support (Grundsicherung) at the Jobcenter.
What is the difference between Seasonal Short-Time Allowance and regular Short-Time Allowance?
One advantage over regular short-time allowance is that no prior notification is required.
A company can make use of the benefit at short notice when needed — a particular advantage for smaller businesses that must react quickly to changing weather conditions.
What is paid under Seasonal Short-Time Allowance?
Employees receive during the period of entitlement:
- 60% of the lost net wage,
- 67% if at least one child lives in the household.
Employers are reimbursed for the social security contributions they alone must bear.
In addition, Winter Allowance Supplements (Zuschuss-Wintergeld) and Additional Expense Winter Allowance (Mehraufwands-Wintergeld) may be granted.
How does the application process work?
Seasonal KUG is initially paid out by the employer to the employees.
The reimbursement application is then submitted digitally:
- via the KEA portal, or
- via the e-services of the Federal Employment Agency.
Proof must be provided — meaning you must be able to document all information:
- maintaining monthly working time records to document working hours, downtime, and absences
- proving which amounts were settled
- proving that Seasonal KUG and/or supplementary benefits were paid out to employees
After the end of the bad-weather period, the Employment Agency will review all information (final audits for short-time allowance).
Training during downtime
Although the funding opportunities are not as extensive as under regular KUG, Seasonal KUG also allows for targeted employee training.
Continuing education can help keep staff professionally up to date.
General information is available on the Federal Employment Agency’s page “Training During Short-Time Work”. To find out what specific offers and opportunities are available in your region, contact your local Employment Agency.
Further information on Seasonal Short-Time Allowance
More information about the regulations for Seasonal Short-Time Allowance can be found on the Federal Employment Agency’s website under “Seasonal Short-Time Allowance”.
There you will also find various downloads, such as a detailed information leaflet on the topic.
