There are two types of social benefits in Germany: unemployment benefits (Arbeitslosengeld) and the so-called citizen's benefit (Bürgergeld).
The first type of benefits is granted to people who have recently lost their job. They are paid for a maximum period of two years and represent two-thirds of the last salary. They are financed entirely by unemployment insurance contributions paid by employees and employers.
The second type, the so-called citizen's benefit, is intended for the long-term unemployed and for people who cannot independently provide for the minimum standard of living. These social benefits are financed by the federal budget and are currently received by over 5.5 million residents of Germany, nearly 4 million of whom are people of working age.
On March 5, the ruling coalition of the CDU and SPD adopted the reform of the second type of social benefits - the so-called Bürgergeld, which will come into force on July 1, 2026. Not only will the name be changed, but also the conditions for receiving it. However, the amount of benefits remains the same. Only for Ukrainian refugees there is a change.
How many euros per month are paid with the so-called Bürgergeld?
Currently, those living alone are paid 563 euros per month. Couples receive 506 euros per person. Children living in families that receive the so-called burghergeld, are also supported financially - with an amount between 357 and 471 euros per month depending on age. Fathers or mothers who raise their children alone, as well as pregnant women, receive a little more.
The state also covers the costs of recipients of this type of social assistance for a suitable sized apartment, heating, water and other utilities. For example, a couple with two children receives a total of 2,700 euros in social assistance, and this amount includes rent for an apartment in the amount of 850 euros. The reform that was adopted today does not change the amount of these benefits.
However, the amount of benefits for Ukrainian refugees is changing. Until now, they automatically received the so-called burghergeld instead of refugee benefits, which asylum seekers from other countries receive. In the future, Ukrainian refugees in Germany will receive the standard benefits for asylum seekers, which are 455 euros per single adult per month and 409 euros per person for couples. The change applies to all Ukrainians who came to Germany after April 1, 2025.
The conditions for receiving the so-called. Burgergeld are also changing significantly. From now on, the focus will be much more strongly on finding a new job or more working hours.
How will they get people to find a new job?
By introducing sanctions, the state hopes to get more people to find work. For example, if a recipient of the so-called. If a person with burghergeld refuses to attend training courses, the basic social assistance will be immediately reduced by 30 percent for three months.
In the case of missed classes at the Labor Office, such a reduction will come into effect after the second missed class within a period of one month, and if subsequent classes are missed, the recipient risks a complete cessation of benefits. In fact, these sanctions would currently affect only a small part of the persons entitled to benefits - on average less than 30,000 people per month.
Cash payments will also be terminated for those who refuse an acceptable job offer without good reason. However, the Labor Office will allow exceptions - for example, for health reasons.
Central election promise
The reform of the so-called The Bürgergeld was one of the central election promises of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrats.
However, social and charitable organizations are critical of these changes. According to them, the reform is a punishment for children, because it is they who will suffer from the reduction or suspension of benefits if their parents miss appointments at the employment office or refuse to work.
In addition, the obligation for parents to start working will apply from the child's first birthday. Critics of the reform consider this unrealistic, since Germany lacks over 400,000 kindergarten places.
Author: Maria Ilcheva