A letter from a German authority. What it means and how to reply.

The Agentur für Arbeit (employment agency) pays Arbeitslosengeld (unemployment benefit) from unemployment insurance (SGB III) and helps people find work and training.

• Sperrzeitbescheid (decision on a benefit suspension period)
• Bewilligungsbescheid Arbeitslosengeld (decision granting unemployment benefit)
• Einladung (Meldeaufforderung, invitation to an appointment)

As the Mahngericht (court for payment orders), the Amtsgericht issues Mahnbescheide and Vollstreckungsbescheide. As the Vollstreckungsgericht (enforcement court), it is responsible for seizures of bank accounts and wages.

• Mahnbescheid (court payment order)
• Vollstreckungsbescheid (enforcement order)
• Pfändungs- und Überweisungsbeschluss (garnishment order)

The Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) decides on residence permits (Aufenthaltstitel), which means visa extensions, the Aufenthaltserlaubnis (residence permit) and the Niederlassungserlaubnis (settlement permit).

• Anhörung (hearing)
• Aufforderung, Unterlagen nachzureichen (request for documents)
• Termin bei der Ausländerbehörde (appointment)

The Amt für Ausbildungsförderung (student finance office, at the Studierendenwerk or the city) decides on BAföG (state financial support for students and trainees) for school pupils and students.

• BAföG-Bescheid (BAföG decision)
• Rückforderung von BAföG (BAföG repayment demand)

The ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice collects the Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcasting licence fee), which is payable per home, on behalf of the regional public broadcasters (Landesrundfunkanstalten).

• Schreiben zum Meldedatenabgleich (letter after the registration data comparison)
• Zahlungsaufforderung (payment request)
• Festsetzungsbescheid (assessment notice)
• Befreiung und Ermäßigung (exemption and reduction)

The Bürgeramt (citizens' office) is usually the registration office (Meldebehörde) of the city or municipality: it keeps the population register (Melderegister) and issues ID cards and passports.

• Aufforderung zur Anmeldung (request to register your address)
• Letter about an expired Personalausweis (German ID card)

The Bußgeldstelle (fines office) deals with administrative offences (Ordnungswidrigkeiten), mainly in road traffic, and sends hearing forms, warnings and fine notices.

• Anhörungsbogen (hearing form)
• Bußgeldbescheid (fine notice)
• Verwarnungsgeld (warning fine)

The Deutsche Rentenversicherung keeps your insurance account, pays pensions and decides on rehabilitation (Reha) benefits.

• Rentenbescheid (pension decision)
• Aufforderung zur Kontenklärung (request to clarify your pension account)
• Ablehnung einer Reha (rehabilitation refused)

The Elterngeldstelle (parental allowance office) of the federal state or the municipality decides on Elterngeld (parental allowance) under the Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act (BEEG).

• Elterngeldbescheid (parental allowance decision)
• Rückforderung von Elterngeld (parental allowance repayment demand)

The Familienkasse (family benefits office) decides on and pays Kindergeld (child benefit) and Kinderzuschlag (child supplement).

• Aufhebung der Kindergeldfestsetzung (cancellation of Kindergeld)
• Anforderung von Nachweisen (request for proof)
• Rückforderung von Kindergeld (repayment of child benefit)

The Finanzamt (tax office) assesses income tax and other taxes, processes tax returns and collects unpaid tax debts.

• Steuerbescheid (tax assessment)
• Aufforderung zur Abgabe der Steuererklärung (request to file a tax return)
• Schätzungsbescheid (estimated tax assessment)
• Mahnung und Säumniszuschlag (reminder and late payment surcharge)

Gerichtsvollzieher (bailiffs) enforce claims on behalf of creditors who have a court title. They seize movable property and take the Vermögensauskunft (statement of assets).

• Ladung zur Vermögensauskunft (summons to give a statement of assets)
• Pfändungsankündigung und Sachpfändung (notice of seizure and seizure of property)
• Eintragungsanordnung (order to enter you in the register of debtors)

The Hauptzollämter (main customs offices) assess vehicle tax and collect unpaid public claims of the federal government, also for the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) or health insurance funds.

• Kfz-Steuerbescheid (vehicle tax assessment)
• Mahnung und Vollstreckungsankündigung (reminder and announcement of enforcement)

The Jobcenter pays basic income support for jobseekers under SGB II (since 1 July 2026 called Grundsicherungsgeld, before that Bürgergeld) and helps you look for work.

• Bewilligungsbescheid (decision granting benefits)
• Aufhebungs- und Erstattungsbescheid (decision cancelling benefits and demanding repayment)
• Einladung zum Meldetermin (invitation to an appointment)
• Minderungsbescheid (Leistungsminderung, benefit reduction)
• Aufforderung zur Mitwirkung (request to provide documents)

The vehicle registration authority of the city or district registers vehicles, deregisters them, and takes them out of service if there is no insurance or vehicle tax is unpaid.

• Aufforderung wegen fehlenden Versicherungsschutzes (request due to missing insurance)
• Abmeldung wegen Kfz-Steuerrückstand (deregistration due to unpaid vehicle tax)

The statutory health insurance fund decides on benefits such as medical aids, therapies and Krankengeld (sickness benefit), and sets your contributions.

• Ablehnung (refusal) of a benefit or medical aid
• Beitragsbescheid (contribution decision)
• Ende des Krankengeldes (end of sickness benefit)

The Steueramt (tax office) of the town or municipality, often also called Stadtkasse or Kämmerei, collects local taxes such as Grundsteuer (property tax) and Hundesteuer (dog tax).

• Grundsteuerbescheid (property tax decision)
• Hundesteuerbescheid (dog tax decision)

The Wohngeldstelle (housing benefit office) of the city or district decides on the allowance towards your rent, or towards the costs of a home you own and live in.

• Wohngeldbescheid (housing benefit decision)
• Rückforderung von Wohngeld (housing benefit repayment demand)