Starting July 1, 2026, Germany's citizen's income will be renamed 'basic security for job seekers.' Standard rates remain unchanged, but rules for recipients and job centers will become stricter. The reform aims to boost work incentives and reduce long-term welfare dependency.
Germany's citizen's income, which replaced the Hartz IV system on January 1, 2023, will undergo a major reform in 2026. The federal government plans to rename it 'basic security for job seekers,' with changes effective from July 1, 2026. Standard rates stay the same: singles and single parents get 563 euros monthly, couples 506 euros each, young adults under 25 at home 451 euros, youths aged 14 to 17 471 euros, children aged 6 to 13 390 euros, and children up to 5 years 357 euros. Children and youths in stages 3 to 6 receive an additional 20 euros child immediate allowance until the introduction of child basic security.
The reform tightens recipients' obligations toward job centers, including higher cooperation duties. Sanctions become harsher: a 30 percent cut for the first violation, and full withdrawal for multiple ones, including housing and heating costs. Grace periods and generous asset allowances will largely end; instead, age-dependent asset limits apply, and savings must be depleted faster. Job centers will enforce stricter rules on housing and heating costs, which can be cut for violations.
Payments arrive monthly on the first working day, transferred at the end of the previous month. For February 2026, it's January 30, though dates may vary by one or two days per job center. Without an account, recipients can get a check from Deutsche Post, minus fees. If payments are missing, contact the job center, as issues like unprocessed applications or wrong data may cause delays.
According to the federal government, the reform aims to strengthen work incentives, push job placements, and reduce long-term recipients. The changes are not yet officially approved.
