Ich-AG is a term used to refer to state support for unemployed people who turned self-employed between 2003 and 2006.

It was intended to assist with payments such as health insurance and pension contributions during the start-up phase of the new business.

Over the years the process of applying became more complicated, making it more difficult and less attractive.

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The Jugendamt is an office, usually located in each Kreis or Kreisstadt and sometimes in other large towns.

The office is not only responsible for child protection and assisting parents that are unable to cope with their children, but also to arrange courses and activities for children.

They are also a point of contact for clubs and societies, eg. to apply for financial support to fund training courses or building repairs.  The rules for this vary from state to state.

Volunteers those clubs and societies can prove that they have a certain number of hours of training can go to the Jugendamt to apply for a JugendleiterInnen-Card, which gives them free or discounted entry to places such as swimming pools and museums.

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Bundeskanzlerin was selected by the Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache as the “Wort des Jahres” (Word of the Year) in 2005.

In 2005 Angela Merkel was elected the first German Bundeskanzlerin – the word is constructed by taking the word for Chancellor, Bundeskanzler, and adding the -in to make a female form out of it.

Although Frau Merkel is addressed as “Frau Bundeskanzlerlin”, other forms of the word have not been changed.  For example, she works in the Bundeskanzleramt.

When talking about her as one of the many elected leaders of Germany, she is referred to as the 8th Bundeskanzler, ie. in the masculine form.

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Hartz IV was selected by the Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache as the “Wort des Jahres” (Word of the Year) in 2004.

Hartz IV is the name given to the financial support for the long-term unemployed.  The term derives from the name of the person who led the commission to reform, amongst other things, unemployment benefits.

The length of time that someone is unemployed before they stop receiving normal unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld) and receive Hartz IV instead depends on a number of factors such as their age and the length of time that they have paid unemployment insurance (Arbeitslosenversicherung).

The amount of support that someone receives depends on factors such as the size of the flat that is considered to be large enough for them, any savings they may have, how many people are dependent on their income, etc.

For example, the allowance for food is set at 4EUR per person per day, which led to the publication of a so-called “Hartz IV menu” earlier this year.

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The Gemeindeschlüssel is an 8-digit number that identifies the local authority in Germany. When you first register your address, the form requires you to give this number, although it is often pre-printed.

If not, ask at the town hall where you are registering. Most people will not know their Gemeindeschlüssel and you are highly unlikely to need it at any other time!

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