What does Darlehen mean?
A Darlehen (loan) is money you borrow and must pay back later. Offices sometimes give loans too.
das Darlehen · die Darlehen (plural)
The Jobcenter, for example, often gives only a loan for a rental deposit or an unavoidable need.
You usually repay it in instalments. If you still receive benefits, the office often keeps the instalments back directly.
The Bescheid says whether you get money as a grant or as a loan. A grant does not have to be paid back.
Example sentence
Die Leistung wird als Darlehen erbracht und ist in monatlichen Raten zurückzuzahlen.
The benefit is granted as a Darlehen and must be repaid in monthly instalments.
What you can do
Check carefully in the Bescheid whether the money is a loan. If you think that is wrong, file a Widerspruch.
Related words
- Aufrechnung Aufrechnung (offsetting) means an office keeps part of your benefit to get back money that you owe it.
- Ratenzahlung Ratenzahlung (payment in instalments) means you pay a debt in smaller amounts, for example part of it every month.
- Kaution The Kaution (deposit) is money you give the landlord as security. You usually get it back after moving out.
- Bürgergeld Bürgergeld (citizen's income) was the Jobcenter's money for people who can work but lack enough to live on. It had this name until June 2026.
- Rückforderung A Rückforderung (claim for repayment) means an office or a company wants back money that you received.