Applying for citizenship + PR simultaneously - spouse on ALG1 and 1 month short of PR eligibility, does any of this affect my applications?
Background:
- I am living in Berlin since October 2021, 5 years continuous residence
- EU Blue Card holder, same employer entire time, stable salary EUR 74,500 + bonus
- B1 German certificate, Einbürgerungstest booked for October 15th
- Married since September 2026 to third-country national (also Blue Card holder)
- Submitting citizenship application October 12th
The situation:
My spouse lost their job end of September and is now receiving ALG1 (Arbeitslosengeld gem. § 136 SGB III) - contribution-based unemployment benefit, not Bürgergeld. Entitled to 12 months (€1,637/month) while job searching. They are not being included in either of my applications as a co-applicant.
The critical detail about my spouse:
My spouse will hit 21 months on their Blue Card on November 1st - which would make them eligible for their own PR (Niederlassungserlaubnis) with C1 German. However he was let go from his job end of September - exactly one month before hitting that threshold. He is now on ALG1 and actively job searching.
Main questions:
- Does it make sense to include my spouse in my PR application as a family member? What are the risks and benefits of this approach?
- Does my spouse receiving ALG1 affect my own citizenship application? Or PR application? I am fully employed full-time.
Thanks a lot in advance!
u/natatsin — 5 days ago