⚠️ Sanctions and breaches of duty
In brief
If you breach an obligation connected with receiving basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld) – for example by refusing reasonable work without good cause, breaking off a measure or missing an appointment without good cause – the Jobcenter can reduce your benefit. Since the reform of 1 July 2026 there is no longer a tiered model with rising percentages, but a uniform 30% reduction of the standard need for three months. If you knowingly refuse reasonable work without good cause, the standard need is withdrawn; the reduction is lifted as soon as taking up work is no longer possible, after one month at the earliest and two months at the latest (§ 31b Abs. 3 SGB II). Only 1 euro per month is then paid out, according to the explanatory memorandum to the law so that your health and long-term care insurance cover is retained. Housing and heating costs must never be reduced.
Step by step
- Attend the hearingBefore the Jobcenter reduces your benefit, it must hear you. Use the opportunity to set out and prove a good cause (illness, childcare problems, unreasonableness).
- Prove good causeSubmit evidence (e.g. medical certificate, proof of childcare) – a good cause presented in time and plausibly prevents the reduction.
- Check the noticeThe reduction notice must name the breach of duty, the reduction rate and the duration specifically.
- Fulfil the obligation afterwardsIf you afterwards declare your willingness to cooperate or fulfil the obligation, the reduction can end early.
- Claim hardshipIn cases of exceptional hardship (e.g. pregnancy, serious illness) the Jobcenter can refrain from a full reduction or consider supplementary benefits in kind.
Deadlines
- Only repeated unexcused absence triggers the reduction for a missed appointment – nevertheless report any impediment beforehand.
- The 30% reduction affects the standard need; by law, housing and heating costs may not be reduced – if this is done anyway, you should have it checked.
- When the standard need is withdrawn entirely because of refusal to work, only the 1-euro amount remains (§ 31a Abs. 4 Satz 3 SGB II), according to the explanatory memorandum to secure health and long-term care insurance – whether and to what extent supplementary benefits in kind for children in the household are granted in addition is not regulated uniformly nationwide and should be asked about at the Jobcenter in the individual case.
- A sanction is a separate administrative act and can be challenged on its own with an objection (Widerspruch) – even if the underlying cooperation plan itself is not an administrative act.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Breaches of duty (§ 31 SGB II)
Breaches of duty include in particular: lack of own efforts or of proof of them, refusal or frustration of reasonable work, training or an integration measure, breaking off such a measure or an integration/language course, abusive reduction of income or assets, and wasteful behaviour despite prior instruction about the legal consequences.
Legal consequences (§ 31a SGB II n. F.)
Since 1.7.2026: a breach of duty leads to a uniform reduction of the standard need by 30% for three months (no tiered model of 10/20/30% any more). If reasonable work, training or employment is knowingly refused without good cause, the standard need is withdrawn entirely; the reduction is lifted as soon as taking up work is no longer possible, after one month at the earliest and two months at the latest (§ 31b Abs. 3 SGB II). An amount of 1 euro per month continues to be paid out (§ 31a Abs. 4 Satz 3 SGB II), according to the explanatory memorandum to preserve the obligation to carry health and long-term care insurance. Housing and heating costs remain unaffected by any reduction and continue to be paid – where applicable on request as a direct payment to the landlord or energy supplier. In cases of exceptional hardship, a reduction can be waived in whole or in part.
Missed appointment (§ 32 SGB II)
If a person entitled to benefits does not comply with a summons to report or an examination appointment without good cause, the standard need is reduced by 30% for a repeated failure (§ 32 Abs. 1, 2 SGB II; duration under § 31b SGB II).
Hearing
Before any reduction, the person entitled to benefits must be heard. A personal hearing should take place in particular where there are indications of a mental illness and from the third consecutive missed appointment.
Ending the reduction
If the person concerned afterwards seriously declares their willingness to fulfil their obligations or fulfils them, the reduction can end early.
Open points
Whether and in what form families with children automatically receive supplementary benefits in kind during a full reduction could not be clearly confirmed from the available primary sources; this is expressly marked here as unresolved, rather than asserting an entitlement. Ask actively in the individual case at the Jobcenter or at a debt or social advice centre.
A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.