🧾 Basic income support in old age
In brief
Basic income support in old age and in cases of reduced earning capacity (Grundsicherung im Alter und bei Erwerbsminderung) tops up a pension or income that is too low to the level of the subsistence minimum under social assistance law. Entitlement arises on reaching the standard retirement age or in case of permanent full reduced earning capacity. Unlike with basic income support for job seekers (Grundsicherungsgeld), adult children only have to support their parents if their own annual income exceeds €100,000.
Step by step
- Check needCompare your pension and other income with the need under social assistance law (standard need plus housing costs plus any additional needs).
- Submit the applicationSubmit the application to the Sozialamt (social welfare office) of your municipality; the Deutsche Rentenversicherung points out the possibility if the pension is evidently low.
- Provide proof of income and assetsSubmit proof of your pension, other income and assets.
- Check the noticeCheck whether standard need, accommodation costs and any additional needs have been correctly taken into account.
- Report changes immediatelyReport changes in income or assets without delay to avoid repayment demands.
Deadlines
- Adult children are liable for their parents only if their own annual income exceeds €100,000 (§ 43 Abs. 5 SGB XII, Relatives Relief Act) – below this threshold the Sozialamt may in principle not claim recourse against them.
- A small protected asset allowance (Schonvermögen) of €10,000 per person applies, which does not have to be used for your needs (ordinance on § 90 Abs. 2 Nr. 9 SGB XII).
- The exact amount of standard-needs level 1 is reset every year on 1 January by statutory ordinance; the amount applicable on 1.1.2026 could not be officially verified in this research and is therefore deliberately not quantified here – ask the Sozialamt or the BMAS for current amounts.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Eligibility requirements (§§ 41 ff. SGB XII)
Persons who have reached the standard retirement age and cannot cover their living costs from their own resources are entitled to basic income support in old age; in case of permanent full reduced earning capacity the entitlement exists regardless of age. The benefit is made up of the relevant standard need, the reasonable costs of accommodation and heating and any additional needs (e.g. where the Merkzeichen G disability mark applies), minus income to be taken into account.
Relatives Relief Act
Since the Relatives Relief Act (2020), children who owe maintenance are only called upon by the Sozialamt to pay maintenance if their own gross annual income exceeds €100,000 (§ 43 Abs. 5 SGB XII); below this threshold the children's income is disregarded for their parents' basic income support.
Relationship to other benefits
Basic income support is subordinate to prior benefits such as housing benefit (Wohngeld) (principle of subsidiarity, § 2 SGB XII); if the need can already be covered by housing benefit, that takes precedence over basic income support.
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