Apply for a citizen's allowance

Citizen's Income, also known as basic income support for job seekers, is a benefit provided by the welfare state to people capable of working who cannot cover their living expenses with their own income or assets. It is governed by Book II of the Social Code (SGB II).

Citizen’s Income ensures the economic minimum subsistence level and enables you to participate in the cultural and social life of our society.

At the same time, citizens eligible for the Citizen’s Income who are able to work receive comprehensive support from the job centers in their search for employment or training opportunities.

Conversely, anyone who receives benefits from the state—that is, from taxpayers—must actively work toward becoming self-sufficient as quickly as possible. The job centers support you in this effort.

Children in need of assistance also receive the Bürgergeld and are monitored by the job centers to ensure they have access to education and can participate in society.

Important: The citizen’s allowance is paid only upon application.

If you have previously received Unemployment Benefit II or Social Assistance, you have been receiving the Citizen’s Allowance since January 1, 2023.

Basic income support benefits are transferred to your account each month in advance.

Flat-Rate Monthly Amount (Standard Allowance)

If you receive the Citizen’s Income, you will receive a lump-sum amount to cover your living expenses (known as the standard needs allowance). It covers your basic needs, such as food, clothing, and personal hygiene, and is adjusted annually. For 2024, the following amounts apply for the standard needs levels (RBS): 

• Single individuals, single parents, adults with minor partners: 563.00 EUR (RBS 1)
• Adult partners: 506.00 EUR (RBS 2)
• Other adults aged 18 to 24 and individuals under 25 who move out of their parents’ household without a commitment from the local authority (ages 18 to 24): 451.00 EUR (RBS 3)
• Children aged 14 to 17: 471.00 EUR (RBS 4)
• Children aged 6 to 13: 390.00 EUR (RBS 5)
• Children aged 0 to 5: 357.00 EUR (RBS 6)

Immediate supplement for children

Children, adolescents, and young adults also receive a monthly immediate supplement of 25.00 EUR (RBS 3–6).

Additional Needs

If you need more money due to special circumstances, you may also be eligible for additional benefits—provided you meet the personal eligibility requirements. Benefits for so-called additional needs are provided, for example, to expectant mothers starting in the 13th week of pregnancy, single parents, people with disabilities who receive benefits to support their participation in the workforce, or individuals who require a more expensive diet for medical reasons.

Costs for Housing and Heating

If you receive the Citizen’s Income, the costs for your housing and heating are covered, provided these costs are reasonable. In the first year of receiving benefits, the actual costs of your apartment or house (net rent excluding utilities) are covered, even if they are not reasonable (the so-called “waiting period”). Starting in the second year of receiving benefits, these costs will only be covered if they are reasonable.

The one-year waiting period does not apply to heating costs. Even in the first year, heating costs are covered not at the actual amount but at a reasonable level. What constitutes reasonable costs depends on where you live.

• Special case: If you are under 25 years of age, unmarried, and want to move out of your parents’ home or leave the home of one parent, you can only receive these benefits if you have a so-called “commitment letter” from the Job Center. You must apply for this commitment letter at your Job Center.

In addition, you may be eligible for the following benefits:

• In emergencies where your livelihood is at risk, you can receive a loan in the form of cash or in-kind benefits upon separate application. This could be the case, for example, if something was stolen from you or broke. However, the standard benefit amount already includes a portion set aside for savings. This means you must normally pay for new purchases and replacements using the money you’ve saved from your standard benefit.
• In certain situations, you may also receive one-time assistance upon submitting a separate application. Examples include initial furnishings for your home or initial provisions for pregnancy and childbirth.
• You may be eligible for assistance with your health and long-term care insurance premiums.
• For your children, you receive benefits for “Education and Participation in Social and Cultural Life” (BuT). These are automatically included in your main application, for example for
  
  • school field trips,
  • school lunches,
  • school supplies (twice a year), or
  • benefits for extracurricular learning support (tutoring).

For more information, see "Additional Information." 

Requirements

• You are fit for work. This means that you
  
  • can work at least 3 hours a day and
  • are at least 15 years old and have not yet reached the statutory pension insurance age limit. If you were born after 1963, this is 67 years. If you were born before 1964, you can look up the age limit that applies to you in the table in § 7a of the German Social Code II (SGB II).
• You are in need of assistance. This means that you are unable to cover your own necessary living expenses and the living expenses of non-employable relatives living with you in a community of need either from your own resources (income and assets) and strength (use of labor) or with the help of other or priority benefits (e.g. unemployment benefit, housing benefit, child supplement).
• You have no priority claims against other benefit providers (e.g. housing benefit) or other persons, such as divorced spouses or the father or mother of your child.
• You live in the Federal Republic of Germany.