Overview
- Germany is replacing Bürgergeld with Grundsicherungsgeld in July, and jobcenters will be able to cut benefits by 30 percent for three months after certain missed duties.
- The new system ends the one‑year grace on assets and allows earlier caps on rent support at up to 1.5 times local limits, so savings and housing costs will face faster checks.
- Many people on basic social assistance under SGB XII will not feel pension increases because the higher pension is counted as income, though §82a shields up to €100 plus 30 percent above that to a €281.50 cap for those with 33 years of basic‑pension periods.
- Wohngeld rules include a €1,800 yearly income allowance for a household member with a severe disability at degree 100 or at least 50 with a need for care, which raises the income level that still qualifies for housing aid.
- The housing benefit asset thresholds stay near €60,000 for the first person and €30,000 for each additional person, while a DIW study warns a pension plan based on 45 contribution years would favor uninterrupted careers and disadvantage many women and low earners.