Essen Proposes Mandatory Work for Welfare Recipients and Annual Health Checks

The German city plans to require Bürgergeld recipients to perform community service and undergo yearly assessments of their ability to work.

The city of Essen has proposed a plan requiring Bürgergeld recipients who are able to work at least three hours a day to perform community service jobs assigned by the job center.
The proposal includes annual health checks for all recipients under 65 to assess their ability to work, with exceptions for those with significant health issues.
Officials argue that the Bürgergeld system encourages dependency and propose replacing it with a return to traditional unemployment assistance, emphasizing personal responsibility.
The North Rhine-Westphalia labor ministry has expressed support for reforms that tie welfare benefits to active participation in overcoming unemployment.
The proposal aligns with broader political debates in Germany, where parties are divided over the future of Bürgergeld, with some advocating for stricter conditions and others defending its current structure.