German Jobcenters Enforce Stricter Bürgergeld Compliance with 63% Rise in Benefit Reductions

New data reveals escalating sanctions for non-compliance, targeting a small fraction of recipients with tiered penalties.

German Jobcenters imposed 369,200 benefit reductions on Bürgergeld recipients in 2024, a 63% increase from the previous year.
Over 86% of sanctions were due to missed reporting requirements, such as failing to attend scheduled appointments.
Permanent reductions affected 27,400 recipients, a 45% rise from 2023, with average cuts amounting to 62 Euros per person.
Less than one percent of eligible Bürgergeld recipients faced penalties, highlighting a targeted enforcement approach.
Sanctions start with a 10% reduction for infractions, escalating to 20-30% for repeated violations, with deliberate job refusals risking full benefit loss.