We investigate galvanomagnetic properties and photoconductivity kinetics of Pb1-xGexTe (x less than or equal to 0.04) alloys doped with Yb. We have found that the existence of the deep impurity level in the energy spectrum causes high photosensitivity of the alloys at temperatures under 40 K and the effect of persistent photoconductivity at helium temperature. The photoconductivity kinetics shows two types of relaxation processes: a fast one and a long-duration one. The obtained results are explained by the Jahn-Teller nature of the Yb-induced defect states. The parameters of the Jahn-Teller states are estimated.