The German government has agreed to reshape the system known as Bürgergeld, which translates as citizens' allowance, under which unemployed people received a basic monthly cash benefit. For single people, it amounts to 563 euros.

Instead, that system will be renamed and reshaped into Grundsicherung or “basic income.”

As reported by Fenix Magazin, the new rules will be significantly stricter, and the goal is to reduce the number of long-term unemployed and encourage them to actively seek work. It is planned to come into force at the beginning of 2026.

According to the agreement of the CDU, CSU and SPD parties, every person receiving assistance must attend mandatory meetings at the job center and accept the offered job or labor market activation measure such as, for example, a course, retraining, trial work or an internship with an employer. If they do not do so, sanctions follow immediately.

In the event of the first missed appointment at the job center, a new appointment is scheduled. The second results in a 30% reduction in state benefits, and after the third refusal, that is, missing the appointment and non-cooperation, all state payments are temporarily suspended in full. If the person also fails to respond in the following month, rent and heating payments are also suspended.

For repeated refusal of an offered, reasonable job, sanctions up to the complete termination of payments are possible, with prescribed exceptions in severe cases.

Social Affairs Minister Bärbel Bas said that payments are not terminated for those who cooperate with the institutions. However, the government will take into account the more difficult life circumstances of certain beneficiaries.

The aim is to establish a fairer system that rewards those who have worked during their lives, and not those who systematically avoid obligations.