OnlyFans while on unemployment benefit or basic income support in Germany: what is allowed and what is offset (2026)

How the agency calculates

From your revenue the agency deducts a flat 30 percent as business expenses; higher expenses count if you prove them. Taxes and social insurance contributions come off the rest, then the allowance of 165 euros. Whatever remains is deducted from your unemployment benefit for the month in which you did the work.

Simplified, without taxes and with the flat rate:

So up to just over 235 euros of revenue a month, your unemployment benefit is untouched. If the offset uses up a month's benefit entirely, nothing is paid for that time – but your entitlement period is not used up.

Did you have the account before? If, in the 18 months before your claim began, you worked self-employed for at least twelve months alongside an employment subject to social insurance, under 15 hours a week, more stays exempt: as much as you earned from it on average per month in the twelve months before, but at least the 165 euros.

What you have to report afterwards: If your profit changes by more than 5 percent, you report it. If you initially expect no profit or less than 165 euros a month, you report as soon as it becomes more. If your profit fluctuates – the norm for an account – the agency asks for a new declaration at least every three months.

Basic income support: your average profit

Since 1 July 2026, Bürgergeld has been called Grundsicherungsgeld. It can top up any income, whether from a job or from self-employed work. There is no hours limit; but the job centre expects you to use every option to end or reduce your need for support – so it can still require you to look for work.

The calculation uses your profit: business revenue minus necessary expenses actually incurred in the approval period – regardless of what would be deductible for tax. The profit for the whole period is divided by the number of months, so a strong month is offset against weaker ones. Expenses that could be avoided or that clearly do not fit your circumstances while receiving benefits are not recognised.

Of your monthly profit, the following stays exempt: 100 euros, plus 20 percent of the part between 100 and 520 euros, 30 percent between 520 and 1,000 euros and 10 percent between 1,000 and 1,200 euros – up to 1,500 euros if you have a minor child. Simplified, without taxes:

The job centre deducts what is offset from your need – the standard rate, 563 euros for a single person in 2026, plus rent and heating. If the offset profit exceeds your need, basic income support stops.

Approved provisionally, settled later

Because an account's profit fluctuates, the job centre first decides provisionally, usually for six months. For this you estimate your revenue and expenses in advance on the Anlage EKS form. After the approval period you prove the actual figures, and the job centre settles up: if your profit was higher than estimated, you pay back; if it was lower, you receive the difference.

If you do not submit the proof despite a deadline and a written warning, the job centre only fixes the entitlement as far as it is proven – for the other months it is found that there was no entitlement. Then the money is reclaimed.

Report: in advance and in full

For both benefits: anyone receiving social benefits must report changes that matter for the benefit without delay. A new account is one of them – before the first payout arrives. If you do not report, you have to pay back benefits paid in excess; the omission is also an administrative offence, and deliberately concealing income risks criminal proceedings. Who else learns about your income is covered in Will my employer find out?

Alongside the benefit, business registration and tax work as for everyone: an account run to make a profit is usually a trade you register, and the profit goes into your tax return, see Tax on OnlyFans income in Germany.

If it is meant to become more

If the account is to become your main activity, your unemployment ends as far as unemployment benefit is concerned. For people starting a business out of unemployment there is the start-up grant (Gründungszuschuss) – the agency decides on it at its discretion. Conditions include at least 150 days of remaining entitlement to unemployment benefit and a statement on the business's viability from an expert body, such as a chamber.

What to settle before you start

In a first conversation we go through what you need to report before you start; how much is offset in your case is worked out by the agency or the job centre.

Sources

• Section 138 SGB III — unemployment (German) — less than 15 hours a week, several activities are added up
• Section 155 SGB III — offsetting side income (German) — 165-euro allowance, flat 30 percent for self-employed work, subsection 2 for existing side work
• Federal Employment Agency: side job and unemployment benefit (German) — register in advance, deregister from 15 hours
• Federal Employment Agency: instructions on Section 138 SGB III (German) — for the self-employed, their own activity counts, including time on standby
• Federal Employment Agency: instructions on Section 155 SGB III (German) — report profit changes over 5 percent, a declaration at least every three months, entitlement period
• Federal Employment Agency: topping up income with Grundsicherungsgeld (German) — Grundsicherungsgeld replaces Bürgergeld from 1 July 2026, standard rate in the example
• Section 11b SGB II — deductions (German) — 100 euros and the 20, 30, 10 percent tiers up to 1,200 or 1,500 euros
• Section 3 Grundsicherungsgeld Regulation — income from self-employment (German) — profit over the approval period, averaged per month
• Section 41 SGB II — approval period (German) — six months for provisional decisions
• Section 41a SGB II — provisional decision (German) — duty to provide proof and the consequences of missing proof
• Job centre: notes on the Anlage EKS (German) — estimate in advance, settlement afterwards
• Section 2 SGB II — the principle of demanding effort (German)
• Section 60 SGB I — stating facts (German) — report changes without delay
• Section 404 SGB III and Section 63 SGB II — fines (German)
• Section 93 SGB III — start-up grant (German)