{"id":9952,"date":"2022-06-15T11:23:30","date_gmt":"2022-06-15T09:23:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/termination-agreement-how-to-avoid-a-blocking-period-for-unemployment-benefits\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T16:38:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T14:38:04","slug":"termination-agreement-how-to-avoid-a-blocking-period-for-unemployment-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/termination-agreement-how-to-avoid-a-blocking-period-for-unemployment-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Termination Agreement: How to Avoid a Blocking Period for Unemployment Benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"9952\" class=\"elementor elementor-9952 elementor-3344\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1305b3b3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1305b3b3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5f69b916\" data-id=\"5f69b916\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3cf035bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3cf035bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<h2 data-start=\"149\" data-end=\"175\">Key Points at a Glance<\/h2>\n<ul data-start=\"177\" data-end=\"992\">\n<li data-start=\"177\" data-end=\"441\">\n<p data-start=\"179\" data-end=\"441\">A termination agreement can lead to the Employment Agency imposing a blocking period of up to 12 weeks. This means that your claim for Unemployment Benefit I is initially suspended, and the total duration of benefits is reduced accordingly. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"442\" data-end=\"718\">\n<p data-start=\"444\" data-end=\"718\">A blocking period can often be avoided or shortened if there is a so-called &#8220;important reason&#8221; for the termination agreement, such as an imminent dismissal by the employer, health reasons, or other serious circumstances. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"719\" data-end=\"992\">\n<p data-start=\"721\" data-end=\"992\">The wording of the termination agreement is crucial: the notice period, severance pay, and termination date should be chosen sensibly to credibly demonstrate to the Agency that a dismissal was inevitable anyway. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3c166ce elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3c166ce\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6abff67\" data-id=\"6abff67\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ac357c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0ac357c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol>\n<li data-start=\"1022\" data-end=\"1075\">\n<p data-start=\"1025\" data-end=\"1075\"><a href=\"#anker1\">Why is there a risk of a blocking period for unemployment benefits?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1076\" data-end=\"1112\">\n<p data-start=\"1079\" data-end=\"1112\"><a href=\"#anker2\">How long does the blocking period last?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1113\" data-end=\"1171\">\n<p data-start=\"1116\" data-end=\"1171\"><a href=\"#anker3\">When can the blocking period be bypassed or shortened?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1172\" data-end=\"1235\">\n<p data-start=\"1175\" data-end=\"1235\"><a href=\"#anker4\">What you should pay particular attention to in a termination agreement<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1236\" data-end=\"1246\">\n<p data-start=\"1239\" data-end=\"1246\"><a href=\"#anker5\">Conclusion<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1247\" data-end=\"1255\">\n<p data-start=\"1250\" data-end=\"1255\"><a href=\"#anker6\">FAQ<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-01909f7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"01909f7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4f36ebf\" data-id=\"4f36ebf\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71109c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"71109c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"anchor1\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be90aab elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"be90aab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 data-start=\"1262\" data-end=\"1316\">1. Why is there a risk of a blocking period for unemployment benefits?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1318\" data-end=\"1686\">When you sign a termination agreement with your employer, the employment relationship usually ends voluntarily. You have therefore actively contributed to the termination. The Employment Agency often assumes that you have &#8220;co-caused&#8221; your unemployment. This can be viewed as conduct contrary to insurance principles.    <\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1688\" data-end=\"1852\">As a result, a blocking period is often imposed: during this time, you receive no unemployment benefits, even though a formal claim exists. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9060eba elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9060eba\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-077f363\" data-id=\"077f363\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-91ccb24 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"91ccb24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"anchor2\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-04b5767 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"04b5767\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 data-start=\"1859\" data-end=\"1896\">2. How long does the blocking period last?<\/h2>\n<ul data-start=\"1898\" data-end=\"2243\">\n<li data-start=\"1898\" data-end=\"2048\">\n<p data-start=\"1900\" data-end=\"2048\">By default, the blocking period is <strong data-start=\"1936\" data-end=\"1949\">12 weeks<\/strong> starting from the last working day or the date of release from work.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2049\" data-end=\"2243\">\n<p data-start=\"2051\" data-end=\"2243\">The total possible entitlement to unemployment benefits is reduced accordingly; for example, a 12-month entitlement effectively becomes only 9 months of payments. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2245\" data-end=\"2320\">However, there are exceptions and special regulations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fc292f6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fc292f6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-50adddc\" data-id=\"50adddc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-616f29e elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"616f29e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"anchor3\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-df10014 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"df10014\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 data-start=\"2327\" data-end=\"2386\">3. When can the blocking period be bypassed or shortened?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2388\" data-end=\"2480\">A blocking period does not necessarily have to occur. Possible exceptions or reductions include: <\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2482\" data-end=\"3387\">\n<li data-start=\"2482\" data-end=\"2685\">\n<p data-start=\"2484\" data-end=\"2685\">There is an <strong data-start=\"2499\" data-end=\"2518\">important reason<\/strong> for the termination agreement, such as an imminent operational dismissal, illness, bullying, or other serious reasons. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2686\" data-end=\"2937\">\n<p data-start=\"2688\" data-end=\"2937\">The termination date agreed upon in the contract corresponds at least to the statutory notice period, meaning the termination agreement only takes effect because a regular dismissal could have followed anyway. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2938\" data-end=\"3152\">\n<p data-start=\"2940\" data-end=\"3152\">The severance pay is moderate or proportionate and is not &#8220;excessively high.&#8221; A conspicuously high severance payment could be viewed with suspicion by the Agency.  <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3153\" data-end=\"3387\">\n<p data-start=\"3155\" data-end=\"3387\">In individual cases, special hardship may also exist, e.g., if the full blocking period would cause financial distress. In such cases, the blocking period may be shortened under certain circumstances. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-44eb7ce elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"44eb7ce\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a62b0e1\" data-id=\"a62b0e1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9b32f99 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"9b32f99\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"anchor4\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b1e6c1e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b1e6c1e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 data-start=\"3394\" data-end=\"3458\">4. What you should pay particular attention to in a termination agreement<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"3460\" data-end=\"3608\">If you are reviewing a termination agreement and want to avoid a blocking period being imposed, you should pay particular attention to the following points:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3610\" data-end=\"4247\">\n<li data-start=\"3610\" data-end=\"3779\">\n<p data-start=\"3612\" data-end=\"3779\">The contract should clearly document that the background was an unavoidable dismissal, i.e., that a regular dismissal would have been likely anyway.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3780\" data-end=\"3891\">\n<p data-start=\"3782\" data-end=\"3891\">The termination date agreed in the contract should correspond at least to the statutory notice period.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3892\" data-end=\"4007\">\n<p data-start=\"3894\" data-end=\"4007\">The severance pay should not be excessively high. A very high severance payment can arouse suspicion at the Agency. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4008\" data-end=\"4247\">\n<p data-start=\"4010\" data-end=\"4247\">When in doubt: Consider a regular dismissal or a court settlement (e.g., after an action for protection against unfair dismissal). These options are generally considered lower risk regarding blocking periods. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-011cb5e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"011cb5e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2a1f50d\" data-id=\"2a1f50d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-243fbc9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"243fbc9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"anchor5\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e85fc4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e85fc4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 data-start=\"4254\" data-end=\"4265\">5. Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"4267\" data-end=\"4789\">A termination agreement can entail significant disadvantages regarding unemployment benefits, particularly a blocking period of up to 12 weeks and a reduced benefit duration. However, these disadvantages can be avoided in many cases if the contract and the framework conditions are carefully designed. Important factors include: realistic notice periods, comprehensible reasons, and a moderate severance payment. If there is any uncertainty, an individual review, for example through legal counsel, is highly recommended.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-808e3f9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"808e3f9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cc62d89\" data-id=\"cc62d89\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d3d54aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"d3d54aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"anchor6\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb46777 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fb46777\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>6. FAQ<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5d2b264 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5d2b264\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9220125\" data-id=\"9220125\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1521cd0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"1521cd0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2211\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2211\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Will I receive any unemployment benefits at all if I have signed a termination agreement?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2211\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2211\"><p>Yes, the entitlement generally remains in place. However, a blocking period may initially be imposed during which you receive nothing. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2212\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2212\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">How long can the blocking period last?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2212\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2212\"><p>Usually 12 weeks. It can be shortened if special circumstances exist. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2213\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2213\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Can I avoid the blocking period?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2213\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2213\"><p>Yes, for example, if the termination agreement is concluded due to an imminent dismissal, illness, or other important reasons, and if the notice period and severance pay are appropriate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2214\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2214\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What happens if the termination agreement is very generous with severance pay?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2214\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2214\"><p>A very high severance payment can be viewed critically. The Agency could become suspicious and impose a blocking period because it considers a regular dismissal to have been avoidable. Therefore, an appropriate arrangement is important.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Will I receive any unemployment benefits at all if I have signed a termination agreement?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p>Yes, the entitlement generally remains in place. However, a blocking period may initially be imposed during which you receive nothing. <\\\/p>\\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How long can the blocking period last?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p>Usually 12 weeks. It can be shortened if special circumstances exist. <\\\/p>\\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can I avoid the blocking period?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p>Yes, for example, if the termination agreement is concluded due to an imminent dismissal, illness, or other important reasons, and if the notice period and severance pay are appropriate.<\\\/p>\\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What happens if the termination agreement is very generous with severance pay?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p>A very high severance payment can be viewed critically. The Agency could become suspicious and impose a blocking period because it considers a regular dismissal to have been avoidable. Therefore, an appropriate arrangement is important.  <\\\/p>\\n\"}}]}<\/script>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Points at a Glance A termination agreement can lead to the Employment Agency imposing a blocking period of up to 12 weeks. This means that your claim for Unemployment Benefit I is initially suspended, and the total duration of benefits is reduced accordingly. A blocking period can often be avoided or shortened if there [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9908,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"two_page_speed":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-unkategorisiert"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Termination Agreement - Avoiding a Blocking Period<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Many people fear that signing a termination agreement will result in a blocking period for unemployment benefits \u25b6\ufe0f Read more\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/termination-agreement-how-to-avoid-a-blocking-period-for-unemployment-benefits\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Termination Agreement - 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