BSG Rules on Benefit Rights for EU Citizen and Unemployment Registration
In a worker status retention case, the BSG required continuous employment of over one year; in another case, a letter served as registration. Both cases remanded.
Social
All publications and key updates in the "Social" category.
Bundestag Holds Hearing on Draft 2027 Budget Support Act
On October 12, the Bundestag Budget Committee held a public hearing on the draft 2027 law; experts assessed proposed fiscal and social measures.
German Tenants' Association Opposes Proposed Wohngeld Cuts
The German Tenants' Association called for rejecting the Wohngeld reform bill and assessed potential impacts; this reflects the union's stance, not an enacted law.
Media: Asylum Applications in EU, Norway, and Switzerland Fall by 24.3%
German media report that 452,969 asylum applications were registered in the EU, Norway, and Switzerland between January and September 2026. Germany ranks third.
Debt Collection Complaints in Germany Rise 62% Year-on-Year
According to vzbv, consumer advice centres received over 7,100 complaints regarding debt collection in H1 2026. The association demands stricter regulatory oversight.
German Federal Government Introduces Tax Reform Bill Increasing Kindergeld
The tax reform draft provides for an increase in child benefit (Kindergeld) to 267 euros from January 2027 and to 272 euros from January 2028, alongside raised tax-free allowances.
Merz Intends to Prevent Socialization of Large Housing Corporations in Berlin
According to ZEIT, Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants to prevent the socialization of large housing corporations via federal law following Die Linke's victory in Berlin.
German Government Comments on Capital-Funded Pension Component
The German federal government believes a capital-funded component could curb rising pension contributions, though implementation details remain under discussion. A pension commission proposed revising rules after 45 years of contributions.
Bundestag and Bundesrat Approve Fuel Tax Cut for Three Months
The Bundestag and Bundesrat have approved a temporary tax reduction on petrol and diesel for three months starting October 1, pending the Federal President's signature.
Around 1.3 Million Households Received Wohngeld in Germany at End of 2025
According to the Federal Statistical Office, roughly 1.3 million households (3.2% of all private households) received Wohngeld at the end of 2025, a 7.2% annual increase.
German Government Approves Action Plan to Curb Social Benefit Abuse
The Federal Cabinet has adopted a 10-point plan against Bürgergeld abuse, bogus employment, and exploitation in rental housing.
Application-Free Child Benefit: Bundestag Approves Kindergeld Reform for Phased 2027 Rollout
The Bundestag has passed legislation introducing application-free Kindergeld disbursement (Drucksache 491/26). A breakdown of the 2027 rollout stages, registry data sharing, and rules for foreign families.
Ukrainian Pensioner Verification Abroad by December 31: Diia.Signature, Video Identification, and Jobcenter/Sozialamt Compliance
The Pension Fund of Ukraine announced the mandatory physical verification deadline for citizens living abroad to prevent payment suspensions. Nodia guide: online verification and how Ukrainian pensions affect German SGB II and SGB XII benefits.
Grundsicherung Reform in the Bundestag: BMAS 2026/2027 Budget, Strict Jobcenter Sanctions, and Abolition of Arbitration
The German Bundestag debated the Ministry of Labor's budget: €28.05 billion for basic income support, a return to strict sanctions up to 30%, elimination of arbitration, and freezing the baseline rate at €563. Jobcenter practice analysis and legal rights guide.
Social Welfare Reform in Germany: From Bürgergeld to Neue Grundsicherung — Tough Sanctions and Jobcenter Rules from September 2026
The German Federal Government has implemented operational directives for Neue Grundsicherung: reducing protected savings to €15,000, prioritizing rapid job placement over retraining, and increasing Jobcenter sanctions.
Payments in 2026: Verifying Ukrainian pensions and subsidies abroad, Jobcenter checks, and document restoration
An overview of social payment rules in Ukraine and Germany in 2026: account checks and myths about CRS, identifying pensioners abroad, Jobcenter requirements regarding income (Grundsicherung), and restoring veteran certificates.
New Rules in Germany: Bezahlkarte and Reduced Payments for Ukrainians
How the introduction of payment cards and the shift to refugee benefits will affect Ukrainians in Germany. Who will be affected by the changes and how to act.
Should we expect further cuts to benefits for Ukrainians in Germany? Analysis and forecasts
Bürgergeld for Ukrainians in Germany: why work is more reliable than benefits and what to prepare for in the future. Germany, which has accepted over 1.2 million refugees from Ukraine since February 2022
Germany to Reduce Benefits for New Ukrainian Refugees from 2025
On August 6, 2025, the German government took a step that fundamentally changes the rules for receiving Ukrainians: a bill to reduce social benefits was approved.
+53 Euros to the Benefit: Germany Increased Payments for Refugees
Bürgergeld instead of Hartz IV: as of January 1st, payments for Ukrainians in Germany have increased. How much are they paying now and what to expect? With the chiming of the bells on the night of January 1, 2023