A piggy bank hung with a colorful string of lights
Finance & Law
27.10.2025 Sabrina Ludwig 18357

How to protect your Christmas bonus from garnishment!

If you have financial problems and debts and have already had your wages or salary garnished, you can still look forward to receiving your employer's Christmas bonus. This is because the Christmas bonus is protected from garnishment up to 780 euros.
 

In summary: Protect your Christmas bonus from garnishment

Christmas bonus has been protected against garnishment up to 780 euros since July 2025. Employers pay out the protected amount automatically.

In the case of account seizures, the seizure protection on the P-account must be increased by application. Special payments at the end of the year are also protected if they are paid between November and January.

How high is the garnishment protection for Christmas bonuses?

The regulations are clear: Christmas bonuses are unattachable up to half of the monthly allowance in accordance with section 850c (1) no. 3 ZPO in conjunction with section 850c (4) no. 1 ZPO. Since July 1, 2025, this amount has been a maximum of EUR 780 (section 850c (1) no. 3 ZPO in conjunction with section 850c (4) no. 1 ZPO).

Note tax deductions for Christmas bonuses

You must bear this in mind: Taxes and social security contributions are deducted from the 780 euros.

Automatic payout and garnishment protection - what employers need to do

The employer must determine how much of the Christmas bonus is non-garnishable and transfer it to the employee with the salary. This happens automatically and the employee does not need to worry about anything.

If this does not happen automatically, the person concerned must initiate a clarifying discussion with their employer.

Do you have an account seizure? Then do so:

However, if you have an account attachment, you should urgently increase the amount that cannot be attached to the attachment protection account (P account) by the amount of the Christmas bonus.

Just because you have a P-account does not mean that the garnishment-free Christmas bonus is protected.

"This is because the protected basic amount and other already certified allowances will generally not be enough to secure the extra Christmas bonus," the consumer advice center points out on its website.

For this purpose, the debtor must file a corresponding application with the enforcement court of the place of residence, which is a division of the local court.

Sample letter: Additional release of the Christmas bonus for a P-account

A sample letter (additional release of the Christmas bonus for a P-account) can be easily downloaded from the consumer advice center:

Sample letter: Additional release of the Christmas bonus

When does garnishment protection also apply to special payments?

Important: The special remuneration paid out at the end of the year does not necessarily have to be called Christmas bonus or Christmas gratuity in order to receive the additional attachment protection. It is sufficient if the payment is made in connection with Christmas - i.e. between mid-November and mid-January of the following year.

Tips for those affected - act quickly!

Those affected should take action quickly, as the Christmas bonus is usually paid out with the November salary.

Help and contacts:in

If you have any questions or need assistance, affected employees whose company is a customer of pme Familienservice are welcome to contact the

pme income and budget counseling team
Angelika Heede
(specialist advisor)

Sources:

Consumer advice center

zero 5 tips on what you can do alone at Christmas

A woman alone under the Christmas tree
Psyche
06.12.2024 Christin Müller 10334

5 tips on what you can do alone at Christmas

Christmas is considered the festival of love, togetherness and joy. "However, there are also many people who have a queasy feeling at the thought of the holidays because they are alone, have no family or - quite simply - don't feel like celebrating Christmas all the time," says Jutta Dreyer, family therapist and head of pme Lebenslagencoaching.

5 tips from family therapist Jutta Dreyer on how you can spend the Christmas holidays without a big family celebration.

1. do something: concerts, theater, party

While others are singing carols under the Christmas tree, the Christmas holidays are also ideal for simply going out and meeting nice people. There are many events on Christmas Eve where you can get to know people: Whether concerts, church services, theater performances or parties or - for the elderly - celebrations in retirement homes or other social facilities.

Take a look at the local events program, the local museums in the larger cities are also usually open on 25 and 26 December. Enjoy the peace and quiet of almost empty museums. When others are lying on the couch after a roast goose, you can enjoy the art all to yourself.

2. take a short trip

Have you wanted to travel over Christmas for a long time? Then just do it. There are plenty of Christmas travel specials to suit all budgets. Many tour operators offer trips for singles or group trips for single people where you can meet like-minded people.

3. invite friends

Do you prefer to celebrate traditionally and miss the family atmosphere? Invite friends over to your home or meet up with old friends for a Christmas after-party cocktail. Ask around in your circle of friends. You're sure to find people who feel the same way. Perhaps you also have good friends who invite you to spend time with their family

Incidentally, it helps to be flexible when choosing the right day - some people like to use Christmas Eve to get together with close family. For many, Christmas Day and Boxing Day are no longer "traditional" holidays. These usually belong to friends or distant relatives.

4. reward yourself

Don't have anyone to give a present to? Then treat yourself to something you've always wanted. Set the table festively, decorate your Christmas tree festively and cook yourself something good. Or make your own pampering program - a nice bath, a good book, good music or your favourite films. Don't forbid yourself to get sentimental at this time. Allow it to happen. You'll often feel much better by then.

5. help other people

Giving is often better than receiving. Visit people who are lonely and helpless - for example in a retirement home or hospital. These people are happy to have company. However, it is important to offer support in good time and not just turn up at the last minute. This way you can find out if and what help is needed.

Last but not least: You don't have to do anything!

Anything goes, nothing has to. It's also okay to spend the Christmas holidays working, for example, doing your tax return and doing nothing else special. You don't have to take the Christmas hype so seriously.