🇩🇪 Germany

Bürgergeld

Basic Income Support

Hard ~30 min UnemploymentBenefitsWelfare

/ What is this form?

Bürgergeld (formerly Hartz IV / ALG II) is Germany's basic income support for people who are able to work but have insufficient income. It covers living expenses, housing costs, and health insurance. Since 2024, the standard rate is €563 per month for single adults.

Bürgergeld replaced the previous Hartz IV system in January 2023, bringing a number of improvements: a higher protected savings amount (Schonvermögen), more flexibility for side jobs, and a focus on qualification rather than sanctions.

Applications are submitted to the local Jobcenter (not the Agentur für Arbeit). The benefit is means-tested and depends on your household composition, income, assets, and housing costs.

/ Who needs this form?

Unemployed people who have exhausted ALG I (unemployment insurance)
Employed people whose income is too low to cover basic needs
Self-employed with insufficient income
Refugees with recognized status

/ What you need before you start

ID or passport

Rental contract and proof of rent payments

Bank statements (last 3 months)

Income proof from all sources

Asset declarations (savings, investments, property)

Health insurance certificate

/ Step-by-step guide

1 Register as Job-Seeking

Register (arbeitslos melden) at your Jobcenter as soon as possible — this sets the start date of your entitlement.

2 Household Members

List all people in your Bedarfsgemeinschaft: partner and children under 25 living with you.

3 Income & Assets

Declare all income and assets. Assets above €15,000 per person are counted against eligibility.

4 Housing Costs

Provide rent and heating costs. Bürgergeld covers actual housing costs up to local limits.

5 Submit & Attend Interview

Submit the form and attend your appointment at the Jobcenter. Bring original documents.

/ Key fields explained

Field	What to enter	Common mistake
Bedarfsgemeinschaft	All people living in your household — partner and children under 25.	Forgetting to include a partner or adult child under 25 who lives with you.
Kosten der Unterkunft	Rent + heating costs (Nebenkosten). Electricity is typically paid separately.	Including electricity costs in the rent — only Kaltmiete and Heizkosten count.
Vermögen	Total assets per person. €15,000 per person is protected (Schonvermögen).	Not knowing that one car up to €15,000 market value is exempt.

/ Common mistakes to avoid

Not reporting all household members — this is benefit fraud.

Forgetting to include heating costs (Heizkosten) in housing costs.

Not reporting small side income — all income must be declared.

Missing the 12-month renewal — benefits stop if not renewed on time.

/ Frequently asked questions

How much Bürgergeld will I receive?

€563/month for single adults (2024 rate). Plus actual housing and heating costs up to local limits. Different rates apply for partners and children.

Can I work while receiving Bürgergeld?

Yes. The first €100/month of earned income is exempt. Above that, you keep 20–30% depending on income level. You can work up to full-time while topping up with Bürgergeld.