Bürgergeld Is Gone: What Need to Know About the New Grundsicherungsgeld

From 1 July, Germany’s long-term unemployment benefit has a new name, tougher sanctions and a stricter savings test. Here is what changes, what stays the same, and what African claimants should do now.

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As from 1 July 2026, Bürgergeld — the benefit millions of jobseekers in Germany have relied on since 2023 — no longer exists. It has been replaced by Grundsicherungsgeld, also called Neue Grundsicherung (“new basic security”), following the 13th Amendment to Germany’s Social Code Book II. For the roughly 5.5 million people currently receiving support, including a large number of Africans and other migrants, the change brings a new name, stricter rules, and closer Jobcenter scrutiny — but not, for now, less money.

You don’t need to reapply

If you are already receiving Bürgergeld, you do not need to submit a new application. Your claim transfers automatically to Grundsicherungsgeld, as long as you still meet the eligibility conditions. New applicants — including jobseekers not entitled to Arbeitslosengeld I, and workers whose wages are too low to live on — apply through the same Jobcenter channels as before.

Payment amounts stay the same — for now

Despite rising living costs, monthly rates are unchanged for a second year running. Single adults continue to receive €563 a month, partners €506 each, and children between €357 and €471 depending on age. The government’s focus with this reform is not the amount paid, but who qualifies and how compliance is enforced.

Sanctions are much tougher

This is the change that matters most. Previously, missing a Jobcenter appointment cost you 10 percent of your benefit. Under Grundsicherungsgeld, a missed appointment without a valid reason cuts your payment by 30 percent. Miss three appointments in a row without justification, and the Jobcenter can withdraw your benefit entirely — including the portion that covers your rent. Refusing a reasonable job offer can also trigger sanctions, and placement into available work now takes priority over training or further qualification, especially for claimants under 30.

Your savings will be checked from day one

The old rule gave new claimants a 12-month grace period (Karenzzeit) in which up to €40,000 in savings was protected, regardless of age. That grace period is abolished. From your very first day on Grundsicherungsgeld, the Jobcenter assesses your assets against a new age-based scale: up to €5,000 protected if you are under 30, €10,000 for ages 31–40, €12,500 for ages 41–50, and €20,000 if you are over 51. Savings above your protected amount must be used for your living costs before the state steps in. A family car and certain essential belongings still do not count as assets.

Why this matters especially for African claimants

Government figures show that people with a migration background make up less than a quarter of Germany’s population but account for around two-thirds of Bürgergeld recipients, with even higher shares in states like Hesse, Baden-Württemberg and Hamburg. Migrant advocacy groups, including Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband and Diakonie, have warned that harsher sanctions and thinner exemptions could hit migrant households — often those with the least financial cushion — hardest.

What to do now

Respond promptly to every Jobcenter letter and attend every appointment; if you cannot make one, notify the Jobcenter in advance with a valid reason. Keep records of your savings and any income. If a job offer is deemed “reasonable,” seek advice before turning it down. If you are unsure of your rights or worried about a sanction, a migrant counselling service — such as YANA Berlin or your local Caritas or AWO advice centre — can help you understand your file and respond correctly before a deadline passes.

Femi Awoniyi

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