What remains the same, and who is eligible?
Even though the “Bürgergeld” is now called “Grundsicherungsgeld” as of today, much will remain the same. Anyone currently receiving “Bürgergeld” does not need to submit a new application due to the change. Notices that have already been issued remain valid. The contact persons at the Jobcenter and any measures or training programs that have already begun will also remain unchanged.
The benefit amounts remain the same. Single adults will continue to receive a standard benefit of 563 euros per month. The amounts for children, adolescents, and young adults also remain unchanged and range from 357 euros to 471 euros per month.
Even people without a German passport can continue to receive basic income support, as before, if they meet the legal requirements. To qualify, they must have their habitual residence in Germany, be unable to support themselves (or unable to do so fully), and be able to work at least three hours a day.
Those eligible include, among others, recognized refugees, persons granted asylum, persons granted subsidiary protection, skilled workers and self-employed individuals with the appropriate residence permit, persons with a Residence permit family reunification, and holders of an EU Blue Card.
For the Naturalization and the Settlement permit , the legal situation also remains the same: Those who receive the new basic income support are generally not entitled to a German passport or a permanent residence permit.
But what's changing starting today?
Stricter Rules in Cases of Non-Cooperation
One of the most significant changes concerns the obligation to cooperate with the job center. Anyone who misses appointments without a valid reason, fails to submit job applications, or does not fulfill other obligations can expect their benefits to be reduced more quickly.
Anyone who misses two appointments at the job center without a valid reason may have their benefits reduced by 30 percent for one month. Anyone who misses three consecutive appointments without a valid reason may lose their entitlement to basic income support entirely.
Even those who do not apply for a job, refuse a reasonable job, or drop out of training courses without a valid reason must expect their benefits to be reduced.
However, the sanctions do not automatically apply to everyone. Those affected must first be given the opportunity to explain why they failed to comply with the requirement. Anyone who can demonstrate a valid reason should not have their benefits reduced. Valid reasons may include, for example, illness, a family emergency, or a lack of childcare.
Work Will Take Priority in the Future
The goal of the new rules is to help people find jobs more quickly. This also means that if a reasonable job is available, those affected must, as a general rule, accept it. This may include a job that does not exactly match their previous education or work experience.
Continuing education and training opportunities remain available. However, they should only be supported if they improve the chances of finding long-term employment.
Another new provision is that parents may be required to take a job or participate in integration, language, or continuing education courses as early as when their child is 15 months old. Prerequisite: Childcare must be secured.
New Rules for Savings
Another important change concerns personal savings —that is, how much assets one may have before becoming eligible for basic income support. Under the Bürgergeld program, a waiting period applied during the first year. During this time, assets were not taken into account unless they exceeded 40,000 euros.
This rule does not apply to basic income support. Anyone applying for the benefit for the first time must disclose their total assets from the outset. If their assets exceed a certain amount, they must first use their savings to cover their living expenses.
In the future, the amount of permitted assets will depend on age:
- Under 30 years old → max. 5,000 euros in savings
- Ages 30–39 → max. 10,000 euros in savings
- Ages 40–49 → max. 12,500 euros in savings
- Ages 50 and up → up to 20,000 euros in savings
New Rules on Housing Costs
New rules also apply to housing costs. The Jobcenter will continue to cover rent and heating costs if they are reasonable. What’s new, however, is that there is now an upper limit on these costs from the very beginning.
This means that the Jobcenter determines what rent costs are considered reasonable for a household in the respective city or municipality. In the first year, housing costs may not exceed this limit by more than 50 percent.
If, for example, the local cost-of-living threshold for a single person is 600 euros, the Jobcenter can generally cover no more than 900 euros of the rent in the first year. If the apartment is even more expensive, the person in question must usually cover the additional costs themselves.
