Guide to Bürgergeld (basic social benefit, formerly Hartz IV)
What is Bürgergeld?
Bürgergeld is Germany's basic social benefit for people with low or no income who are capable of working (between 15 years of age and retirement age). Since January 1, 2023, it has replaced the previous Hartz IV system. Its purpose is to guarantee the existential minimum (Existenzminimum): food, clothing, housing, heating, and access to healthcare. It is administered by the Jobcenter, the local branch of the Federal Employment Agency.
Important note regarding 2026: The original guide mentioned a reform renaming the benefit to "Grundsicherungsgeld" in 2026. The current legal framework (as of July 2026) still refers to the system under the Social Security Code (SGB II) and the term "Bürgergeld" remains widely used in public discourse. The legal basis for this benefit continues to be § 7 SGB II. Bürgergeld includes:
Regelsatz – a fixed standard rate for daily living expenses (food, clothing, communication, hygiene)
Kosten der Unterkunft und Heizung (KdU) – coverage of actual rent and heating costs (within the limits of what is considered "reasonable" according to local standards)
Mehrbedarfe – additional allowances for special needs (pregnancy, disability, special dietary requirements)
Einmalige Leistungen – one-off payments (e.g., for furniture when moving into a home for the first time)
Health insurance contributions – are paid automatically
Who is eligible? To receive Bürgergeld, you must meet the following basic conditions as set out in § 7 SGB II:
Erwerbsfähig: You are able to work at least 3 hours per day. Temporary illness (up to 6 months) is not considered an obstacle.
Age: Between 15 years old and reaching retirement age (currently 67 years).
Residence: You live in Germany.
Hilfebedürftigkeit: Your income, together with that of your entire household (Bedarfsgemeinschaft), falls below the benefit level (Regelsatz + KdU).
Vermögen (Assets/Wealth): Your savings do not exceed the protected allowance (Schonvermögen).
Not incarcerated: You are not in prison.
Who is part of the Bedarfsgemeinschaft (community of need)? All persons who live with you in the same household and manage a common budget are counted as part of the Bedarfsgemeinschaft:
Spouse/partner
Children up to the age of 25, provided they are not married and have no income of their own
Their income and assets are also taken into account in the calculation.
Special rules for migrants EU citizens: Entitled to Bürgergeld after 3 months of residence. Third-country nationals: Those holding a residence permit that allows work (e.g., Blue Card, Chancenkarte) are also entitled. Ukrainians: Those with a residence permit according to § 24 AufenthG have full access to Bürgergeld. Asylum seekers during the asylum procedure: They generally receive benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act (AsylbLG), which are lower than Bürgergeld. Persons who came to Germany solely to look for work without a work permit are generally not eligible. Who does not receive Bürgergeld:
Persons whose income exceeds their needs
Students receiving BAföG (student financial aid takes priority)
Persons living in nursing homes or care facilities
Persons who came solely to look for work without an appropriate residence permit
📊 Current Benefit Rates (as of July 2026) The standard rates (Regelsatz) have been frozen since January 1, 2024, and did not increase in 2025 or 2026 . These are the current monthly amounts: Single adults / single parents: €563 per month (Regelbedarfsstufe 1) Partners in a couple (each): €506 per month (Regelbedarfsstufe 2) Adults under 25 living with parents: €451 per month (Regelbedarfsstufe 3) Children aged 14–17: €471 per month Children aged 6–13: €390 per month Children aged 0–5: €357 per month
What Does the Regelsatz Cover? This flat-rate amount is designed to cover everyday living expenses, including food, clothing, hygiene items, household energy (excluding heating), mobility (e.g., public transport), internet, telephone, education, culture, and leisure activities. What is NOT Included in the Regelsatz?
KdU (Housing and Heating Costs): Your actual rent and heating bills are paid separately but only up to the local "reasonable" limit (angemessen). For instance, in Berlin, this is roughly €10–12 per square meter. If your apartment costs more, you must cover the difference yourself .
Mehrbedarfe (Additional Allowances): Surcharges for specific needs, such as +17% for pregnant women or people with disabilities, are paid on top of the Regelsatz .
BuT (Education and Participation): Benefits for children, like school lunches, class trips, and tutoring, are separate from the standard rate.
Example Calculation (Single Person in Munich) A single person with a rent of €800 would receive: €563 (Regelsatz) + €800 (KdU) = €1,363 per month (minus any of your own income).
Assets and Wealth (Vermögen) – What Can You Keep? The rules for protected assets (Schonvermögen) have been significantly tightened since the reform on July 1, 2026. The previous 12-month grace period (KKdUarenzzeit) with a €40,000 allowance has been abolished. The new asset limits depend strictly on age:
Up to age 20: €5,000
Age 21–39 (or up to 30, depending on the source): €10,000
Age 40–49: €12,500
Age 50 and older: €15,000 to €20,000
Note: Sources differ slightly on the exact age brackets and amounts (e.g., some state €5,000 for up to age 30, others up to 20, and the threshold for 50+ is sometimes cited as €20,000). You should confirm the specific limits with your Jobcenter. Assets that are always protected (Schonvermögen):
Owner-occupied housing: A house up to 140 m² or an apartment up to 130 m² remains protected.
One car per person (up to about €15,000 in value).
Recognized pension insurance such as Riester-Rente.
Deadlines & Key Dates You should apply from the month you become in need. Retroactive payments are not provided, so it is essential to submit your application immediately. You can apply online via the Jobcenter website or in person at your local registration office (Anmeldung). Approval is typically granted for a period of 6 months. After this, you must submit an application for extension (Verlängerung). Payments are made at the end of the month for the current month. You have one month from the date you receive a written rejection (Bescheid) to file an objection (Widerspruch). Important: If the written notice does not contain instructions on how to appeal, the deadline is extended to one year. Reporting Changes You must report any changes immediately – such as moving, changes in income, or the birth of a child. Failure to do so can result in a demand to repay the money.
Typical Mistakes (Reasons for Rejection or Reduced Payments) Statistics indicate that every third objection against a Jobcenter decision is successful. Errors occur in 30–50% of rejections.
Incorrect Housing Costs (KdU) – 40% of errors: Your actual rent may not have been properly considered, an outdated local standard may have been applied, or the first-year rule was not applied. In the first year of receiving benefits, the Jobcenter generally pays the full rental costs, as long as the rent does not exceed one and a half times the local "reasonable" limit (Angemessenheitsgrenze).
Incorrect Income Calculation: You may have overlooked tax exemptions (Freibeträge). The first €100 of income from employment is exempt and not deducted from your benefits. For higher incomes, there are additional allowances of 20% up to €520 and 30% up to €1,000. It is also a mistake if Kindergeld (child benefit) is counted as the child's income when it is intended for the parents.
Incorrect Asset Calculation: Your protected assets (Schonvermögen) may not have been fully counted, or the first-year exemption may have been overlooked. As of July 1, 2026, the previous 12-month grace period (Karenzzeit) with a €40,000 allowance has been abolished, and the new asset limits are now age-dependent.
Denial of Additional Needs (Mehrbedarf): This often happens because a medical certificate (Attest) was not provided.
Incorrect Household Determination (Bedarfsgemeinschaft): The Jobcenter may have incorrectly grouped or separated family members.
Unfair Sanctions: A penalty for missing an appointment without a valid reason. The new rules allow for a 30% reduction in the standard rate for the first violation, and after three missed appointments, benefits can be completely suspended.
Incomplete Documentation: Forgetting to include your rental contract, bank statements, or other required certificates.
Step 1: Check if you are eligible for Bürgergeld Use the official calculator from Stiftung Warentest or the one on the Jobcenter website (under "Leistungsrechner") to get an estimate. If the calculator shows you are entitled to more than €0, you should submit an application. Important for migrants:
Ukrainians (with §24 AufenthG) have full access.
Other non-EU nationals: You are eligible if your residence permit allows you to work (e.g., Blue Card, Opportunity Card).
EU citizens: You are generally eligible after 3 months of residence.
Step 2: Prepare your documents You will need the following documents (originals and copies) for every member of your household:
Bank statements from the last 3 months for all accounts (including savings accounts)
Proof of income / notification of dismissal (if you were employed)
Children's birth certificates
Medical certificates (if you have additional needs, such as disability or pregnancy)
Proof of assets (savings books, car, etc.)
Important: Do not send original documents. Copies or scanned documents are sufficient.
Step 3: Submit your application
Option A – Online (recommended)
Go to jobcenter.digital (or your local Jobcenter's website under "Online-Antrag").
You need to register (with your tax ID or customer number, if you have one).
Fill in the main application form, along with any required annexes (for income, assets, housing costs, etc.).
Upload all documents.
Sign electronically, and submit. You will receive a confirmation of receipt by email. The application is effective as of the month it is submitted.
Option B – In person Find your local Jobcenter (by postal code on arbeitsagentur.de) and book an appointment (online or by phone – wait times can be up to 4 weeks). Fill out the application and all relevant annexes beforehand, print them out, and bring them along with copies of all documents. It is advisable to bring two copies so you can have one stamped as proof of receipt by the Jobcenter. Application template here Option C – By post Print and fill out the application form (available as a PDF on the Jobcenter's website) and all annexes, and send them together with copies of your documents to your local Jobcenter.
Step 4: Wait for the decision
The Jobcenter will review your application and may request additional documents (you typically have 2 weeks to respond). You will receive a written decision (Bescheid) by post, either granting or rejecting your application. If approved, the money will be transferred to your account at the end of the month. The first approval is usually for a period of 6 months. After that, you must submit an application for an extension (Verlängerungsantrag), ideally about 6 weeks before the end of the approval period.
If the Jobcenter Requests Additional Documents
When you have submitted your application and the Jobcenter has already partially reviewed it, they may request additional documents. A serious mistake is to simply forward the requested documents without a cover letter. In such cases, the officials at the Jobcenter do not understand which case the documents belong to, cannot link them to a specific file number, consider the deadline not met, and issue a rejection stating „Unterlagen nicht fristgerecht eingereicht“
How to Submit Additional Documents Correctly When submitting additional documents, you must include a cover letter (Begleitschreiben). Cover letter pdfword.doc This ensures that your documents are correctly assigned to your case and that the deadline is met.
If Your Application Was Rejected, You Received Too Little, or They Demand Money Back – File a Widerspruch (Objection) If the Jobcenter has rejected your application, sent you an Aufhebungs- und Erstattungsbescheid (a decision revoking benefits and demanding repayment of overpaid amounts), or granted you less than you are entitled to, you can take legal action.
Check the deadline: You generally have one month to file an objection (Widerspruch) from the date you received the decision. If the decision does not contain instructions on how to appeal (Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung), the deadline is extended to one year.
File the Widerspruch immediately: You can file the objection briefly at first – just to meet the deadline. The full justification can be submitted later.
Gather evidence: Collect all relevant documents to support your case: all letters and decisions from the Jobcenter, receipts, invoices, bank statements, contracts, medical certificates, and any other documents that support your case.
Submit your objection correctly: The objection must be in writing and submitted to the Jobcenter. Recommended methods include sending it by registered mail with return receipt (Einschreiben mit Rückschein) or handing it in person and having it stamped as received. Do not rely on email as a legally secure method of submission.
Watch for the response: The Jobcenter generally has three months to respond to your objection. If they do not respond within this period, you can file an action for failure to act (Untätigkeitsklage) with the Social Court (Sozialgericht).
If the Jobcenter rejects your objection: If the Jobcenter issues a negative response (Widerspruchsbescheid), you have one month to file a lawsuit (Klage) with the Social Court.
If your payment was rejected or too low, file an appeal.
Deadline: 1 month from receipt of the notification (1 year if no instructions were provided). Use our appeal template.
