What happens to my unemployment benefit if I miss an appointment in Germany?

When Germany reformed its primary long-term unemployment benefit, it tightened the rules for missing appointments at Jobcenters. But the reform also effectively resets the count on missed appointments that may have occurred before the new rule took effect on July 1st, according to recent German media reports. If you miss a second appointment, the Jobcenter can reduce your benefit payment by 30 percent for one month. If you miss a third appointment in a row without an excuse, your benefit payment is cancelled in its entirety for one month. Transitional rules around the benefit reform clarified that any appointments missed up until July 1st were sanctioned in accordance with the previous Bürgergeld rules.