'Bürgergeld and Grundsicherung in Germany in 2026: eligibility, amounts,
Find your route
3 quick steps
Bürgergeld in Germany is basic subsistence support for employable people and their families when their own income, savings, and priority benefits are not enough. In 2026, the Bürgergeld rates remain at the 2024-2025 level, and from July 1, 2026 the system is supposed to gradually transition to the new Grundsicherung für Arbeitsuchende, where the cash benefit is called Grundsicherungsgeld.
Until 2023, this support was more often called Hartz 4, Arbeitslosengeld II, ALG II, or ALG 2. The official term is now Bürgergeld. If you are not entitled to unemployment insurance benefit ALG or the amount is not enough for rent and living expenses, the application is usually filed with the Jobcenter.
It is important to understand how the benefit works: the Jobcenter covers the minimum need, but in return it requires cooperation. The recipient must report income and assets, attend appointments, respond to requests, look for work, or take part in integration measures if that is reasonable in their situation.
Who qualifies for Bürgergeld
Bürgergeld is paid to people who meet the basic SGB II conditions at the same time:
- they are at least 15 years old and have not yet reached retirement age;
- they live in Germany and their center of vital interests is here;
- they are able to work at least 3 hours a day;
- they need assistance because the income and countable assets of the Bedarfsgemeinschaft are not enough to cover the subsistence minimum.
A family member who is not fit for work can also receive support within Bürgergeld if they live in the same Bedarfsgemeinschaft as an employable recipient.
For foreigners, the decisive issue is residence status. The Jobcenter separately checks the Aufenthaltstitel, citizenship, work history, and the basis for residence. In general, Bürgergeld is not available to people who are in Germany unlawfully, came only to look for work without any other right to support, or receive assistance under the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz.
If regular Arbeitslosengeld is too small, Bürgergeld can top it up. This situation often arises for families with children, in areas with high rent, or when someone has only a short insurance record.
Bedarfsgemeinschaft and Haushaltsgemeinschaft
Bedarfsgemeinschaft is a group of people whose needs, income, and assets the Jobcenter considers together. A single applicant is also regarded as a one-person Bedarfsgemeinschaft.
Usually, a Bedarfsgemeinschaft includes:
- the applicant themself;
- a spouse or partner in a stable shared household;
- children under 25 who live with their parents, are unmarried, and do not support themselves;
- in some cases, parents if the application is submitted by an unmarried child aged 15-24 who lives at home.
Sharing an apartment does not always mean one Bedarfsgemeinschaft. If people live under one roof but keep separate finances, the Jobcenter may treat the situation as a Haushaltsgemeinschaft or a WG. That is why it matters not only who is registered at the address, but who actually runs a joint household and bears mutual responsibility.
How to submit the application
The application can be submitted online through the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, in writing, in person, or through the Jobcenter. If the entitlement is confirmed, the payment is usually counted from the beginning of the month in which the Antrag was submitted, not just from the date the documents were received.
Most often you need:
- a passport, Personalausweis, or Aufenthaltstitel;
- a Meldebescheinigung, if requested;
- bank statements, usually for the last few months;
- information on salary, Arbeitslosengeld, Kindergeld, Unterhalt, pensions, and other income;
- the Mietvertrag and proof of heating costs;
- Anlage VM for assets, Anlage EK for income, Anlage EKS for self-employment, if they apply.
It is risky to hide bank accounts, side jobs, a move, gifted money, or assets: the Jobcenter can recalculate the benefit, demand repayment, and in serious cases pass the matter on as Sozialbetrug.
What the payment consists of
Bürgergeld consists of several parts:
- Regelbedarf - the basic amount for food, clothing, communication, household expenses, and ordinary electricity;
- Kosten der Unterkunft und Heizung (KdU) - recognized housing and heating costs;
- contributions to statutory health insurance or a Zuschuss toward private health insurance in permitted cases;
- Mehrbedarf - additional payments in special circumstances;
- one-time payments or loans if a separate documented need arises.
Regelbedarf in 2026
In 2026, the federal Bürgergeld and Sozialhilfe rates were not increased. The Grundsicherung reform does not change the Regelsätze themselves.
| Category | Amount per month |
|---|---|
| Single adult or single parent | 563 EUR |
| Each adult in a couple | 506 EUR |
| Adult aged 18-24 without their own household | 451 EUR |
| Teenager aged 14-17 | 471 EUR |
| Child aged 6-13 | 390 EUR |
| Child aged 0-5 | 357 EUR |
You do not have to account for the Regelbedarf with every receipt. But it is not “pocket money on top of everything else”: ordinary day-to-day expenses, including household electricity, are paid from it. You need a bank account to receive the payments, so it is best to arrange a Girokonto in Germany as early as possible.
Mehrbedarf
Mehrbedarf is not granted automatically to everyone. Usually you have to submit a separate request and document the reason.
Typical cases:
- pregnancy from the 13th week - a supplement of 17% of the relevant Regelbedarf;
- raising children alone - the percentage depends on the number and age of the children;
- disability while taking part in vocational integration measures - a 35% supplement may be possible;
- medically necessary expensive nutrition - in the amount recognized by the Jobcenter;
- decentralized water heating, for example by boiler or Durchlauferhitzer;
- certain situations of full incapacity for work with Merkzeichen G.
For single parents, the supplements can be substantial, but it is better to check the calculation against the Bescheid: the amount depends on the family composition and the specific Regelbedarfsstufe.
One-time payments and loans
The Jobcenter can pay for Erstausstattung if a person objectively needs basic items for housing, pregnancy, the birth of a child, or after a sharp change in life circumstances. This can include furniture, essential household appliances, baby items, or certain orthopedic goods.
The best order is to apply first and buy later. If you purchase things in advance without coordination, the Jobcenter may refuse compensation or recognize only part of the costs. In urgent cases, a Darlehen is possible, which is then withheld in installments.
Housing and heating
The Jobcenter pays for Unterkunft und Heizung only within reasonable limits. There is no single table for all of Germany: the limits depend on the city, district, family composition, and the local rental market.
Before signing a new rental contract, it is better to get Zustimmung from the Jobcenter. If the contract is already signed and the rent is above the local limit, the difference may remain the recipient’s responsibility.
While the Bürgergeld model is still in force, the first year usually includes a Karenzzeit for housing: rent is not checked as strictly right away as it is after that period. But heating is recognized from the start only in angemessener Höhe. After the Karenzzeit, the Jobcenter may require lower costs: move, negotiate a rent reduction, sublet part of the housing, or pay the difference yourself.
Household electricity is usually part of the Regelbedarf rather than KdU. Exceptions are possible for special types of heating or water heating, but these need to be checked against the Bescheid and the contract.
Income and Freibeträge
You can receive Bürgergeld while doing side work if, after your income is taken into account, the family still needs assistance. But any income must be reported to the Jobcenter.
The basic logic is:
- the first 100 EUR of Erwerbseinkommen is usually not counted;
- after that, a tiered system of Freibeträge applies;
- part of the income reduces the payment, but a working person should still end up with more money than without earnings;
- work-related expenses can be taken into account separately if they are documented and exceed the standard allowance.
Kindergeld, Unterhalt, Elterngeld, pensions, income from self-employment, rental income, interest, and tax refunds can also affect the calculation. For self-employed people it is especially important to keep documents carefully: the Jobcenter looks not only at turnover, but also at allowable expenses.
Assets in 2026
Bürgergeld is assistance for people in need, so the Jobcenter checks the Vermögen of the entire Bedarfsgemeinschaft.
Before the new rules take effect, the Bürgergeld scheme works like this:
| Period | What is counted |
|---|---|
| First year of support, Karenzzeit | Vermögen is counted only as erhebliches Vermögen: more than 40,000 EUR for the first employable person and more than 15,000 EUR for each additional member of the Bedarfsgemeinschaft |
| After the Karenzzeit | The Freibetrag is 15,000 EUR for each person in the Bedarfsgemeinschaft |
Assets include money in bank accounts, cash, securities, cars, real estate, insurance savings, and other assets that can be valued and used. Not every asset automatically removes entitlement to support: protected categories include reasonable household goods, allowable Altersvorsorge, suitable owner-occupied housing, and other categories.
If there is a major purchase, sale, inheritance, money transfer, or expensive car, it is better to disclose it immediately. An individual assessment can matter more than a general phrase from the internet.
Obligations and sanctions
A Bürgergeld recipient must cooperate with the Jobcenter:
- attend scheduled appointments;
- respond to letters and requests;
- report changes in income, assets, address, family composition, and work;
- look for work and accept reasonable offers;
- participate in courses, retraining, Sprachkurs, or other measures if they are assigned and suitable, including learning German.
If there is a valid reason for missing an appointment or refusing something - illness, childcare, an urgent family situation, inability to travel, or an error in the letter - it must be explained quickly and documented. Before reducing the payment, the Jobcenter must give the person a chance to comment.
Rules until June 30, 2026
Before the transition to the new Grundsicherung, the Bürgergeld rules apply:
| Violation | Possible reduction |
|---|---|
| Meldeversäumnis, meaning a missed appointment | 10% of the Regelbedarf for 1 month |
| First Pflichtverletzung | 10% for 1 month |
| Second Pflichtverletzung | 20% for 2 months |
| Third and each further Pflichtverletzung | 30% for 3 months |
If someone deliberately refuses a specific reasonable job, the full Regelbedarf can be removed for up to 2 months if additional conditions are met. Under the current model, Kosten der Unterkunft are usually not reduced as a standard sanction.
You can challenge a sanction. If the obligation has been fulfilled or the person seriously states that they are ready to comply going forward, the future reduction may stop after the minimum period.
Erreichbarkeit: travel and being away from home
For Bürgergeld recipients, what matters is not “vacation” in the everyday sense, but Erreichbarkeit - being reachable for the Jobcenter. Before a trip, visiting relatives, or being temporarily away from your place of residence, you need the Jobcenter’s approval.
The usual guideline is up to 3 weeks in a calendar year with payments continuing, if the Jobcenter approved the Ortsabwesenheit in advance. A longer period more often leads to losing entitlement to Bürgergeld for the time away, although specific valid reasons may be assessed individually.
After returning, it is worth meeting all Jobcenter requirements: check in, answer letters, and confirm your availability if requested.
Arbeitsgelegenheit and the “1-euro job”
What is often called a “1-euro job” is officially called Arbeitsgelegenheit. It is not regular work under an employment contract and not a replacement for employment with the minimum wage in Germany. The measure is intended for people who need to gradually return to a work routine.
Possible examples include help in social institutions, maintenance of municipal areas, and support for public projects. The conditions must be stated in the Zuweisung.
Key features of an Arbeitsgelegenheit:
- it is not assigned to everyone, but used as an integration measure;
- it does not create a standard employment contract;
- the participant receives Mehraufwandsentschädigung on top of Bürgergeld;
- the compensation is not treated as regular wages if the measure is arranged under the SGB II rules;
- the duration and repeated participation are limited by law and by the Jobcenter’s decision.
If a person believes the measure is unsuitable because of health, qualifications, childcare, or other reasons, they should object in writing with evidence instead of simply ignoring the assignment.
What changes from July 1, 2026
The federal government announced that Bürgergeld will be transformed into the new Grundsicherung für Arbeitsuchende. The law was passed by the Bundestag on March 5, 2026 and approved by the Bundesrat on March 27, 2026; it is scheduled to come into force in stages from July 1, 2026.
The main directions of the reform:
| Area | What has been officially announced |
|---|---|
| Name | Bürgergeld will become Grundsicherungsgeld within the Grundsicherung für Arbeitsuchende system |
| Vermittlungsvorrang | The Jobcenter will first examine the quickest path into employment more actively, and only then qualification measures |
| Obligations | The Kooperationsplan and cooperation requirements become more verbindlich |
| Pflichtverletzung | The Regelbedarf can be reduced by 30% for 3 months |
| Meldeversäumnis | The first missed appointment brings no reduction, from the second onward 30% for 1 month is possible |
| Three missed appointments in a row | In extreme cases, entitlement can end because of Nichterreichbarkeit, including housing costs |
| Refusal of work | The full Regelbedarf can be removed for at least 1 month and at most 2 months |
| Assets | The one-year Karenzzeit for Vermögen is to be replaced by Schonvermögen rules linked to age |
| Housing | Even during the Karenzzeit, housing costs are to be capped at 1.5 times the local Angemessenheitsgrenze |
| Parents of small children | Work or a measure can be considered reasonable after the child is 14 months old if care is available |
One important caveat: the reform is being introduced gradually, and a specific Bescheid always depends on the wording of the law, transitional rules, and the practice of your Jobcenter. That is why, in the case of a disputed sanction, a dispute over rent, assets, or a foreigner’s status, it is better not to rely only on a general article, but to check the official Bescheid and seek Beratungshilfe or a specialist adviser.
Common mistakes
- Submitting the Antrag too late and losing a month even though the need already existed.
- Signing an expensive Mietvertrag without Zustimmung from the Jobcenter.
- Failing to report a side job because “it is less than 100 EUR.”
- Leaving Germany without the Jobcenter’s approval.
- Not opening Jobcenter letters or missing an Anhörung.
- Assuming a partner’s or child’s money has no effect on the calculation.
- Buying furniture or appliances before applying for Erstausstattung.
FAQ
Do I need to report a side job of less than 100 EUR?
Yes. The 100 EUR is not permission to stay silent, but part of the Freibetrag calculation. The Jobcenter must know about the income even if it is small.
How much can I have in my account while receiving Bürgergeld?
Under the rules before the reform, the first year has a Karenzzeit: 40,000 EUR for the first employable person and 15,000 EUR for each additional member of the Bedarfsgemeinschaft. After the Karenzzeit, the general Freibetrag is 15,000 EUR per person. From July 1, 2026 the rules are supposed to change, so new Bescheide should be checked especially carefully.
Can I buy a car?
Yes, but an expensive car can become an issue as Vermögen. Before a major purchase, it is better to ask the Jobcenter in writing or at least keep the contract, payment documents, and an explanation of why the car is necessary.
Can I leave Germany for two weeks?
Yes, if the Jobcenter approved the absence in advance. Without approval, you can lose entitlement to the payment for the period of the trip.
What should I do if I receive a sanction?
Check the Widerspruch deadline, the reason, the Rechtsfolgenbelehrung, and whether there was an Anhörung. If there is a valid reason or a case of particular hardship, it needs to be documented. If your income is low, you can check whether you qualify for Beratungshilfe through the Amtsgericht.
Can I get money for my first furniture or baby items?
Yes, Einmalige Leistungen are possible, but it is better to submit the application before buying. The Jobcenter usually wants to understand why the item is necessary and why the need cannot be covered from the Regelbedarf.
