Overview

• The Bundesagentur für Arbeit confirmed it will discontinue Bürgergeld information leaflets in nine foreign languages and retain only German and limited English versions starting August 2025.
• The agency justified the move by citing low download rates for translated leaflets, high upkeep costs and the widespread availability of browser-based translation tools.
• CDU lawmakers praised the decision as a necessary step to curb perceived social migration incentives, while the AfD denounced multilingual materials as “advertising” for welfare seekers.
• Die Linke, the Greens and welfare organizations warn that eliminating translations will lead to misunderstandings, longer processing times and heavier workloads for overburdened Jobcenters.
• Press reports indicate that from 2026 the agency may also remove language-specific form-fill guidance in Russian, Ukrainian and English.