Overview
- From July 1, 2026, Bürgergeld will be replaced by Grundsicherungsgeld, leaving benefit amounts initially unchanged but letting job centers set binding duties by order and cut the standard rate by 30% at the first breach, or about €152 to €169 a month.
- The transition will not require new applications, yet protections ease as the one‑year asset grace ends, housing costs face earlier caps at 1.5 times local limits, and missed appointments or unpaid duties trigger quicker penalties.
- Pension rules already tightened on January 1, 2026, when the special protection for severely disabled people ended, making a full pension only at 65 and early retirement from 62 with permanent cuts of up to 10.8%.
- Pensions also move in practice on July 1 with a 4.24% rise, while the annual review of the basic pension top‑up uses earlier tax data and can reduce the add‑on to zero for some retirees, especially couples with higher combined income.
- Health Minister Nina Warken proposes lifting the long‑term care contribution ceiling by €300 and raising the bar for care grades 1 to 3, a plan touted to raise about €1 billion but opposed by SPD voices and the SoVD over access and higher costs for top earners.