📋 Cooperation plan in cases of addiction (formerly Eingliederungsvereinbarung)

Addiction and the Jobcenter: how an addiction is taken into account in the cooperation plan – and what applies to sanctions.

cooperation plan integration agreement § 15 SGB II Grundsicherungsgeld § 44a SGB II

In brief

Since 1 July 2026, the former "Bürgergeld" has officially been called "Grundsicherungsgeld" (13th Act Amending SGB II, BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 107). The former "Eingliederungsvereinbarung" (integration agreement) was, independently of this, already renamed "Kooperationsplan" (cooperation plan) on 1 January 2023 (§ 15 SGB II) and kept that name in the 2026 reform.

In SGB II, an addiction is treated as a possible health-related obstacle to placement: it can restrict the reasonableness of work (§ 10 SGB II) and, in the cooperation plan, can provide for treatment as a priority instead of immediate job placement. If someone fails without good reason to attend agreed addiction counselling/treatment, this can in principle be sanctioned – but a "good reason" rules out a sanction.

Step by step

Raise the addiction with the JobcenterIdeally with the support of the addiction advice centre, which can act as a cooperation partner of the Jobcenter.
Shape the cooperation plan togetherAddiction counselling/treatment can be agreed as part of the cooperation plan; it is reviewed and updated regularly.
If there are doubts about earning capacity: assessmentIf there are doubts as to whether earning capacity is restricted by the addiction, the Jobcenter decides after an expert opinion from the pension insurance provider (§ 44a SGB II).

Deadlines

discretionary benefit

Addiction counselling is a local-authority integration benefit that the Jobcenter/municipality can provide if it is necessary for integration – not an individual legal entitlement.§ 16a Nr. 4 SGB II

good reason

A breach of duty (e.g. failing to attend the agreed addiction treatment) is not sanctioned if there is a good reason and it is made credible.§ 31 Abs. 1 SGB II

not conclusively clarified

The exact amount of the benefit reduction for breaches of duty was reformed on 1 July 2026; secondary sources give differing percentages – check the current Fachliche Weisung (technical instruction) of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit before making any binding statement.§§ 31, 31a SGB II (as of 1 July 2026, details not conclusively verified)

Watch out – common mistakes

An addiction does not automatically protect against every sanction – without a "good reason", in principle the same rules apply as for other breaches of duty.
§ 16a SGB II is often wrongly understood as a mandatory benefit of the municipality – it is a discretionary benefit, not an individual entitlement.
The exact current sanction percentages after the 2026 reform are presented inconsistently in different sources – have the current version explained to you in your individual case by an addiction advice centre or legal adviser.

In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Terminology: Bürgergeld, Grundsicherungsgeld, cooperation plan

On 1 July 2026, the 13th Act Amending SGB II (BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 107 of 22 April 2026) renamed the benefit "Bürgergeld" "Grundsicherungsgeld". The "Kooperationsplan" (cooperation plan) under § 15 SGB II, independently of this, has existed since the Bürgergeld Act of 1 January 2023 as the successor to the former "Eingliederungsvereinbarung" and was not renamed again by the 2026 reform. Because many people still search for "Eingliederungsvereinbarung", this page uses both terms.

Reasonableness and obstacles to placement

§ 10 SGB II declares work unreasonable if the person concerned is physically, mentally or emotionally unable to do it; an addiction can meet this ground for exclusion in the individual case. Where there are doubts about earning capacity as a whole, the Jobcenter decides under § 44a SGB II on the basis of a binding expert opinion from the responsible pension insurance provider.

Addiction counselling as a local-authority integration benefit

§ 16a Nr. 4 SGB II lists addiction counselling as one of several local-authority integration benefits. According to the prevailing commentary, it is a discretionary benefit without an individual legal entitlement to any particular cost coverage.

Sanctions

If someone fails without good reason to attend addiction treatment/counselling agreed in the cooperation plan, a benefit reduction under §§ 31, 31a SGB II can in principle follow; a good reason rules out the sanction. On the exact amount of the benefit reduction after the 2026 reform, contradictory secondary sources exist – older sources give a stepped model (10 %/20 %/30 %), newer ones report a tightening. These percentages were not conclusively verified in this research against the statutory text or the Fachliche Weisung of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit.

Uncertain/not conclusively clarified

The exact current scale of sanction percentages under §§ 31, 31a SGB II since 1 July 2026, and a possible addiction-specific special rule on the assessment procedure under § 44a SGB II, could not be conclusively verified.

Who is responsible

Jobcenter
Addiction advice centre (as cooperation partner)
Pension insurance provider (expert opinion under § 44a SGB II)

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Cooperation plan in cases of addiction (formerly Eingliederungsvereinbarung)“?

Addiction and the Jobcenter: how an addiction is taken into account in the cooperation plan – and what applies to sanctions.

Which deadlines and figures matter?

discretionary benefit: Addiction counselling is a local-authority integration benefit that the Jobcenter/municipality can provide if it is necessary for integration – not an individual legal entitlement. (§ 16a Nr. 4 SGB II)
good reason: A breach of duty (e.g. failing to attend the agreed addiction treatment) is not sanctioned if there is a good reason and it is made credible. (§ 31 Abs. 1 SGB II)
not conclusively clarified: The exact amount of the benefit reduction for breaches of duty was reformed on 1 July 2026; secondary sources give differing percentages – check the current Fachliche Weisung (technical instruction) of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit before making any binding statement. (§§ 31, 31a SGB II (as of 1 July 2026, details not conclusively verified))

What should I do first?

Raise the addiction with the Jobcenter: Ideally with the support of the addiction advice centre, which can act as a cooperation partner of the Jobcenter.
Shape the cooperation plan together: Addiction counselling/treatment can be agreed as part of the cooperation plan; it is reviewed and updated regularly.
If there are doubts about earning capacity: assessment: If there are doubts as to whether earning capacity is restricted by the addiction, the Jobcenter decides after an expert opinion from the pension insurance provider (§ 44a SGB II).

What do I need to watch out for?

An addiction does not automatically protect against every sanction – without a "good reason", in principle the same rules apply as for other breaches of duty.
§ 16a SGB II is often wrongly understood as a mandatory benefit of the municipality – it is a discretionary benefit, not an individual entitlement.
The exact current sanction percentages after the 2026 reform are presented inconsistently in different sources – have the current version explained to you in your individual case by an addiction advice centre or legal adviser.

Evidence

§ 10, § 15, § 16a, §§ 31, 31a, § 44a SGB II (gesetze-im-internet.de)
BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 107 of 22 April 2026 (recht.bund.de)
Haufe commentary, SGB II § 16a Nr. 4 (addiction counselling)

As of

As of September 2026. Legal status since 1 July 2026 (13th SGB II Amendment Act); exact sanction percentages not conclusively verified in detail. · Sources and method

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