Who is entitled to Bürgergeld?

To understand whether you are entitled to Bürgergeld, it is important to know the basic requirements. This article explains which conditions must be met to receive Bürgergeld and which groups of people are eligible for benefits.

The basic requirements at a glance

To be able to claim Bürgergeld, you must meet the following basic requirements:

1. Age: You must be at least 15 years old and not yet have reached retirement age.
2. Employability: You must be fundamentally able to work at least 3 hours daily under the usual conditions of the labor market.
3. Need for assistance: You cannot sufficiently cover your living expenses from your own resources (income, assets).
4. Habitual residence in Germany

Who is considered employable?

A person is considered employable if they can be gainfully employed for at least three hours daily under the usual conditions of the general labor market. This is a medical assessment and refers to the fundamental physical and mental ability to work - regardless of the current labor market situation or qualifications.

Non-employable persons may be entitled to social assistance under SGB XII under certain circumstances.

What does need for assistance mean?

A person in need of assistance is someone who cannot or cannot sufficiently secure their livelihood from their own resources and does not receive the necessary assistance from others, in particular not from:

• Family members
• Other social security providers
• Third parties

Both income and assets are taken into account, with certain allowances applying.

The concept of the household community

A special feature of Bürgergeld is the principle of the household community. This means that not only the individual situation is considered, but the joint economic situation of all persons who live together in a household and manage finances together.

The household community may include:

• The eligible person themselves
• The (spouse) partner or registered partner
• Partner in a “responsibility and support community” (marriage-like community)
• Unmarried children under 25 years of age (without their own sufficient income)
• Parents or parent in the apartment of an unmarried child under 25 years of age

In the household community, the income and assets of all members are added together and compared to the total need.

Special groups of people

1. Trainees and students

In principle, trainees and students are excluded from Bürgergeld if their training is eligible for funding under the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) or Vocational Training Allowance (BAB). Exceptions apply under certain circumstances, for example:

• During the first training in the parental household
• For training that is not BAföG-eligible
• In special hardship cases

2. Foreign nationals

Foreign nationals can be entitled to Bürgergeld under the following conditions:

• EU citizens with employee or self-employed status
• EU citizens after 5 years of lawful residence
• Third-country nationals with certain residence permits (e.g., settlement permit)
• Recognized refugees and persons entitled to asylum

Generally excluded are:

• Foreigners who entered to obtain social assistance
• Foreigners during the first three months of their stay
• EU citizens who are in Germany solely to look for work

3. Self-employed

Self-employed persons can also receive Bürgergeld if their income is insufficient to cover their living expenses. Special calculation methods for income are applied here.

4. Persons in residential facilities

People who are accommodated in a residential facility (e.g., hospital, prison) for longer than 6 months generally have no entitlement to Bürgergeld.

Exclusion from Bürgergeld

Generally, no entitlement to Bürgergeld exists for persons who:

• Receive old-age pension
• Receive benefits under SGB XII (social assistance)
• Stay in a residential facility for longer than 6 months
• In certain cases during training

Conclusion

The question of whether an entitlement to Bürgergeld exists can only be answered taking into account all individual circumstances. In case of doubt, it is worth submitting an application or seeking individual advice from an advice center.

Our Entitlement Calculator can give you an initial orientation as to whether and to what extent you may be entitled to Bürgergeld.

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Important note: This information provides a general overview and cannot cover all individual cases. In case of doubt, you should seek personal advice or ask directly at your responsible job center.