The matter is settled: the ruling coalition is moving to abolish the Bürgergeld for citizens this week.
Germany’s ruling coalition plans to abolish the current Bürgergeld (citizen’s income) and replace it with a new basic income guarantee. The Bundestag is scheduled to vote on the reform this Thursday after final agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD.
After months of intense negotiations, coalition leaders settled the final details of the reform. According to parliamentary sources in Berlin, the law will introduce stricter rules for around 5.3 million people currently receiving basic income support. The changes were first debated in the Bundestag in January.
Marc Biadacz declared that “the chapter on citizen’s income is closed,” emphasizing that the new system will reward those making genuine efforts while demanding greater responsibility from recipients. Under the reform, benefits could be completely withdrawn after three missed appointments at the job center, as part of newly introduced full sanctions.
Job centers will gain more flexibility in reintegration programs. In cases of repeated missed appointments, they may require a certificate from a public health officer instead of accepting a standard sick note from a general practitioner. While sanctions will become stricter, housing cost protections for families will remain in place.
Asset rules will also tighten, with the planned abolition of a fixed waiting period for asset protection, meaning personal income and savings must be used before receiving support.
The law still requires approval from the Bundesrat and is expected to largely take effect on July 1, 2026. The Bürgergeld system has been in place since early 2023, originally prioritizing further education over immediate job placement. The CDU/CSU had long pushed for tougher regulations and the removal of the term “citizen’s income.” Financial savings from the reform are expected to be limited, estimated at tens of millions of euros.