Public legal information and mediation service

Arbitration Board Citizens' Allowance General Information

Are there conflicts while developing your cooperation plan at the job center? The external arbitration board of the Public Legal Information Service (ÖRA) can help you find a mutual solution.

Detailed description

The cooperation plan is a joint plan that the job center develops with you, the benefit recipient. It replaces the previous integration agreement. In a discussion with your integration specialist, you will explore the steps planned to achieve a goal and how the job center can support you in achieving it. The results are documented in the cooperation plan and updated regularly.



Should any disagreements arise, you or the job center can initiate arbitration proceedings. In Hamburg, the arbitration process is conducted by the Public Legal Information Service (ÖRA). During the arbitration process, an impartial arbitrator will assist you in finding an amicable solution with the job center. This means you do not need to involve a lawyer. Participation in the arbitration process is voluntary. Your already approved benefits cannot be reduced during the arbitration process.

 

Information

Prerequisites

You have tried unsuccessfully to agree on a cooperation plan with your integration specialist.

Documents required

Please bring all documents that you consider relevant to the arbitration meeting with you. To ensure a neutral arbitration process, the arbitration board will not review any documents or files in advance.

Please note

  • Questions or disputes about the amount of your citizen's allowance or about notices cannot be resolved in the arbitration procedure.
  • If you wish, you can bring another person with you to the interview as an assistant.
  • The mediation discussions will be conducted in German. You may bring a trusted person to translate.
  • If you are unable to attend the conciliation meeting for an important reason, please notify us by phone or email as soon as possible and provide appropriate proof.
  • If you do not attend a conciliation meeting without giving a valid reason in advance, the conciliation process will be terminated.

Deadlines


  • The written offer you receive from your job center is valid for 10 days. If you wish to accept the conciliation offer, you must submit it to the Public Legal Information Service (ÖRA) within these 10 days.

  • The conciliation procedure will take a maximum of four weeks after you have received an invitation from the Public Legal Information Service (ÖRA) to a conciliation meeting.

Procedure

  • You will receive a written offer to conduct a conciliation procedure from your integration specialist at the Jobcenter.
  • If you would like to pursue the conciliation procedure, please contact the Public Legal Information Service (ÖRA) by phone or email and submit your offer there.
  • You will receive an invitation from ÖRA to a conciliation meeting shortly.
  • During this meeting, you and your integration specialist will be accompanied by a neutral person. The goal is to develop a joint solution proposal for the cooperation plan.
  • If you and the job center can't reach an agreement, the process will be over after four weeks at the latest. It can also end sooner if it's clear that no solution can be found.
  • If you and your integration specialist can agree on a solution, this will be recorded in writing and included in the cooperation plan.

Processing time

The arbitration process lasts a maximum of four weeks. The four weeks begin after you receive an invitation from the Public Legal Information Service (ÖRA) for an appointment. Each appointment lasts approximately three hours. A second appointment can be arranged if necessary.

Fees

The mediation process is free of charge. If you incur travel expenses for attending mediation meetings, you can obtain reimbursement through your employment counselor.

Legal remedies

dependent on the individual case

Legal basis

§15a Social Code (SGB) Second Book (II)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_2/__15.html

Links on hamburg.de

Address and contact information

Public legal information and mediation service

Hinweis zum Briefkasten:

Die ÖRA hat keinen eigenen Briefkasten. Ein persönlicher Einwurf ist daher nicht möglich.

Ausschließlich für Güteanträge kann der Briefkasten der „Gemeinsamen Antragsstelle des Ziviljustizgebäudes“ genutzt werden: Sievekingplatz 1, 20354 Hamburg

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Keywords: Arbitration ÖRA Arbitration cooperation plan job center Arbitration procedure according to §15a SGB II

Last updated: 10.10.2026