Overview

• The coalition’s committee agreed to replace Bürgergeld with a new Grundsicherung that introduces a stepped sanction regime for missed Jobcenter appointments.
• Under the plan, a first missed appointment is rebooked, a second triggers a 30% cut, and a third leads to a loss of cash benefits.
• The current single-adult standard rate is €563 per month; a 30% reduction would leave €394, according to figures cited by SoVD.
• VdK and SoVD warn the measures could breach constitutional guarantees of a minimum livelihood and penalize people who miss appointments for legitimate reasons.
• The package still requires approval by the cabinet and Bundesrat, with the government aiming for spring 2026, as debate also extends to proposals to end the 12‑month grace period on assets and full rent coverage and to research indicating sanctions can speed job entry but lead to poorer, less durable employment.