The German government has approved reforms to the basic social assistance Bürgergeld, which introduces stricter conditions for receiving payments, enhanced monitoring, and the implementation of sanctions. The changes may affect about 5.5 million beneficiaries, including Ukrainians. This is reported by Visit Ukraine.
The decision was made at a meeting of the federal government in Berlin. The initiator of the draft law is the German Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Hubertus Heil. At the same time, the document still needs to be reviewed by the Bundestag, where it has already sparked intense discussions.
New rules for Bürgergeld 2026
One of the key innovations will be the possibility of complete cessation of payments in case of violations of the requirements of the Jobcenter employment centers. In particular:
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after three absences without a valid reason, assistance may be completely stopped;
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two missed appointments can result in a 30% reduction in payments.
Sanctions may affect not only monetary assistance but also housing cost compensation. At the same time, the recipient must be given the opportunity to explain the situation by phone or during a personal meeting. People with confirmed mental illnesses are protected from complete cessation of payments.
Changes in social assistance in Germany 2026: savings and employment
The reform abolishes the fixed "grace period" during which personal savings were not taken into account. Under the new rules:
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applicants with substantial savings must first use their own funds;
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the amount of "protected" savings will depend on age;
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housing costs will be compensated only within established norms.
Jobcenters will focus on the quickest possible employment of beneficiaries. Training and retraining will remain a priority if they increase job prospects. All commitments will be recorded in an individual cooperation plan.
Despite the tightened requirements, the amount of payments will not change: 563 euros for single individuals, 506 euros for partners, 357–451 euros for children plus an additional 20 euros. If approved by parliament, the reform is set to take effect from July 1, 2026.
It should be noted that Germany is preparing a draft law that will limit payments of Bürgergeld to Ukrainian refugees. This decision was made as a result of the increasing number of Ukrainians arriving in Germany following the easing of travel restrictions from Ukraine. It is noted that approximately 490,000 able-bodied Ukrainians receive this financial assistance.