Overview
- Parliament approved the 13th SGB II amendment in March 2026, replacing Bürgergeld with “Grundsicherung für Arbeitssuchende,” with most rules applying from July 1, 2026.
- Work duties and penalties tighten, including a 30% cut for three months for key breaches and possible full suspensions up to housing costs after repeated no-shows or non-reachability.
- Jobcenters gain power from July to query landlords without tenant consent, with landlords required to share rent and billing data on official forms or face fines up to €5,000.
- Wohngeld guidance confirms 2026 asset checkpoints stay at €60,000 for one person and €30,000 for each additional person, and the benefit cannot be combined with SGB II or SGB XII but can be paired with child benefits, ALG I, Elterngeld and pensions.
- Authorities can reclaim Wohngeld for up to three years when income is raised retroactively, such as after a backdated disability pension, so recipients should report changes quickly.