Debt and Consumer Insolvency Advice

1. Debt counselling and 2. Consumer insolvency advice

We offer comprehensive advice and support regarding your current financial and personal situation. Together with you, we will develop a plan to help you manage your debt situation. We do not take on your debts, but rather outline options for debt settlement. We treat all your information confidentially, in accordance with the law. As a recognised advice centre, we support you in the event of consumer insolvency proceedings, both in attempting to reach an out-of-court settlement and in initiating and carrying out the court insolvency proceedings.

What we expect from you

• active and trusting cooperation
• that you do not enter into any new financial commitments (loans, orders, debt restructuring)
• that you do not make any new payment promises or agree to instalment payments with your creditors (this does not apply to current rent arrears, electricity debts or impending prison sentences)
• Please refer the creditor to your appointment or your visit to the debt advice service
• that you do not sign any forms during home visits (self-disclosure forms, assignments)
• that you fully disclose your financial circumstances
• that you adhere to any agreements and deadlines made with us

Preparing for your first appointment

Please note the relevant guidance on preparing for your first appointment under ->Downloads.

Open consultation hours

The open consultation hours take place every Thursday from 08:00 to 12:00. During this brief consultation, you should provide information on:

• which of your debts is causing you the most stress and why
• the extent of your debt
• the number of creditors
• the amount and type of your income

3. Rent and energy debts, and 4. Benefits for prisoners

We can advise and support you with rent and energy debts. Under certain conditions, we offer financial assistance in the form of covering rent and energy arrears, as well as living expenses under Chapter 3 of SGB XII. For prisoners, there is the option of having rent costs covered to enable them to retain their accommodation whilst in custody. Prisoners on remand may apply for pocket money. In addition, living expenses may also be granted in accordance with Chapter 3 of SGB XII.

If you have rent or energy arrears, please submit an application for these to be covered!

• As a person in employment (aged 15–65): at Eigenbetrieb Jenarbeit (Stadtrodaer Str. 1)
  Secretariat telephone 0049 3641 49-4701
• If you are not in employment (receiving a pension or no social security benefits): to have your entitlement assessed by the benefits advisor for basic income support at Lutherplatz 3

Residents who have received rejection notices from Jenarbeit and those currently serving a prison sentence should please contact:

Ms Körner
2nd floor, Room 2_19
Lutherplatz 3
07743 Jena
Tel. 0049 3641 49-4664

The necessary forms are available for download under ‘Documents’.

Debt counselling/consumer insolvency advice

Please only bring original documents to the advice centre for your initial consultation after consulting with the advice centre.

Understanding and managing your exact income and expenditure situation is a very important part of debt counselling. Please take a look at the documents.

• Personal details questionnaire
• Monthly household budget (with partner)
• Monthly household budget for property (if you own or rent a property)
• List of assets
• History of how your debts arose
• List of creditors

You can download the forms from the ‘Downloads’ section.

From 1 July 2014, only the official forms for consumer insolvency proceedings and the residual debt discharge procedure may be used when applying for consumer insolvency.

The P-account has been in existence since 1 July 2010. Upon application, you can have the exemption limit for wage garnishment increased, provided you have maintenance obligations which you are fulfilling. The relevant supporting documents must be submitted for a period of 3 months.

If you receive benefits from the Jobcentre, this certificate will be issued directly by them.

Rent and energy debts / Prison service

You can download and print the application form for benefits under SGB XII from the ‘Downloads’ section. Please attach the following to the completed application form (where available and applicable):

• Identity card/passport
• Statutory health insurance chip card or documents relating to voluntary health insurance
• Severe disability card
• Guardianship certificate/power of attorney
• Proof of the amount of rent:
  • Tenancy agreement and most recent rent adjustment notice
  • In the case of right of residence and right of occupancy: handover agreement
  • Proof of service charges
  • Notice of termination, eviction proceedings/judgement
• Proof of all income, e.g.:
  • 3 recent payslips + employment contract
  • Current pension adjustment notice
  • Notices regarding occupational, supplementary and endowment pensions
  • Notices regarding pension payments
  • Proof of life annuities, etc.
  • Housing benefit, child benefit, child benefit supplement, parental allowance
  • BAföG, maintenance, etc.
• Evidence of all assets, e.g.:
  • Statements for all existing accounts covering the last 3 months (complete)
  • Savings books, fixed-term deposit or money market accounts
  • Securities, mortgage bonds, bonds
  • For property and land assets: a current extract from the land register
  • In the case of rights of residence, retirement rights or usufruct: transfer agreement
• Policies for accident, life and funeral insurance, with proof of the current surrender value
• Recent rejection notices from any employer
• Certificate of liability
• Declaration of consent regarding data protection for jenarbeit, landlords and housing benefit

The consultation is free of charge.