🏛️ Basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld) or basic income support for reduced earning capacity: who pays when
In brief
Whether the Jobcenter or the Sozialamt (social welfare office) is responsible depends on your capacity to work. Under Jobcenter law, you are capable of work if you can work at least 3 hours a day (§ 8 SGB II). Since 1 July 2026 the former Bürgergeld has been called Grundsicherungsgeld. The reform is coming into force step by step.
If you are permanently fully incapacitated for work and over 18, you can receive basic income support for reduced earning capacity from the Sozialamt (§ 41 SGB XII) if your income and assets are not enough.
For single adults the standard rate (Regelbedarf) in 2026 is €563 a month according to the federal government. In addition there are rent and heating costs in a reasonable amount.
Step by step
- Clarify who is responsibleAsk the Jobcenter or Sozialamt who is responsible for you.
- Submit an applicationSubmit the application to the responsible office, preferably with advice.
- Involve the pension insuranceIf needed, the Sozialamt asks the pension insurance to check the reduced earning capacity.
- Declare income and assetsSubmit the supporting documents in full.
Deadlines
- Whether you must go to the Jobcenter or the Sozialamt can be disputed. For disputed cases the law provides for the opinion of the pension insurance; details not checked against the full text here.
- For a time-limited full reduced earning capacity pension, responsibility was not checked against the full text. Ask the Sozialamt.
- The pension insurance's decision on permanent full reduction in earning capacity is binding for the Sozialamt (§ 45 SGB XII).
- Figures on asset limits and the offsetting of the pension were not checked here.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Jobcenter
Under § 8 SGB II, a person is capable of work if they are not, for the foreseeable future, unable because of illness or disability to work at least three hours a day under the usual conditions of the general labour market. Since 1 July 2026 the Bürgergeld has been gradually converted into the Grundsicherungsgeld (Bundestag 5 March 2026, Bundesrat 27 March 2026). According to the federal government, people with health limitations are to be supported in a more targeted way. Details on effects for people with reduced earning capacity were not checked against the full text.
Sozialamt
§ 41 SGB XII: Persons entitled under Chapter 4 are persons with habitual residence in Germany who cannot, or cannot sufficiently, cover their necessary living costs from income and assets, namely (among others) persons from age 18 (§ 41 Abs. 3) who are permanently fully incapacitated for work with no prospect of improvement. Under § 41 Abs. 4, anyone who in the last ten years intentionally or through gross negligence caused their need for assistance is excluded.
Determination of reduced earning capacity
§ 45 SGB XII: The social assistance provider asks the pension insurance provider to check the medical requirements if this seems likely and income and assets are not sufficient. The pension insurance provider's decision is binding. Exceptions exist, among others, if a determination or an expert opinion already exists or in workshop procedures.
Standard rate
For 2026 the federal government gives €563 for single persons, €506 per partner, €390 for children aged 6 to 13 and €357 for children aged 0 to 5. The amount once granted must be at least maintained in the following years (protection of acquired entitlement, Besitzschutz).
Basic income support in old age and housing benefit: group Rentner. Jobcenter duties: group Arbeitslose.
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.