Bürgergeld in Germany canceled from July 1, 2026: what payments are now available for Ukrainians

From July 1, new social support rules have come into effect in Germany. The Bürgergeld program has been replaced with basic income (Grundsicherung), and along with this, the requirements for recipients of aid have been tightened. The changes affect both German citizens and Ukrainians who are in the country under temporary protection. This is reported by Deutsche Welle.

Payments for Ukrainians in Germany: what has changed since July 1, 2026

From now on, instead of Bürgergeld, Ukrainian refugees who are eligible for social support will receive basic income (Grundsicherung).

The main goal of the reform is to return employable people to the labor market faster. That is why employment centers will now focus more on employment than on professional training or retraining.

In addition, control over the financial situation of aid recipients is being strengthened. Job centers will check applicants' savings more carefully, as well as housing rental expenses.

Grundsicherung in Germany: which rules have become stricter

One of the most important changes has been the introduction of new sanctions for those who refuse to cooperate with employment centers.

Now, payments may be reduced or even completely stopped if a person:

• does not attend scheduled meetings at the Jobcenter;
• does not apply for job vacancies;
• refuses the offered job without valid reasons.

At the same time, individuals will have to agree even to vacancies that do not match their previous profession or qualifications if their health allows them to perform such work.

The period of exemption regarding personal savings has also been shortened. Previously, funds were not counted during the first year of receiving aid, but now savings of up to 40 thousand euros must be used within the first year after applying.

In addition, there are limits on compensation for housing costs if they exceed established standards.

If you are interested in working in Germany, we offer you to check 140,000 job vacancies on the Layboard portal.

How many people will receive basic income in Germany

According to German authorities, after the reform, approximately 5.5 million people will receive basic income.

Of these, only less than a third can immediately enter the labor market. About 1.2 million have no professional qualifications, and approximately 16 thousand have systematically refused work or have not appeared at employment centers.

Employment expert Vitaliy Belenets believes that the new rules indicate a change in the German government's approach to social policy.

«Germany is gradually shifting from a model of prolonged social support to a model of rapid integration of people into the labor market. For Ukrainians, this means that employment centers will more actively offer vacancies, and the requirements for job search will become significantly stricter. At the same time, it should not be perceived as the abolition of aid for everyone. If a person truly cannot work due to health conditions, child care, or other objective reasons, they will continue to have the right to state support. Those planning to stay in Germany for a long time should already focus on learning the language, confirming qualifications, and looking for a job, as employment is becoming the main priority of the new system», — explained Inkorr employment expert Vitaliy Belenets.

Additionally, nearly 2 million recipients of aid currently cannot work due to childcare or caregiving responsibilities or due to insufficient income, and 1.8 million consist of children and youth.

It is noteworthy that the German government plans to change the social support rules for Ukrainians who are in the country under the temporary protection program according to §24.