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Important changes
- The Deutschland ticket price will increase by 5€ to 63€ per month from Jan 2026. [1]
- Ticket prices in Berlin will increase in 2026. [2]
- DB launched a new app, "Rad +". You can collect rewards based on the number of kilometers you cycled in a year.
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Citizens' Allowance in Germany
Citizens' Allowance (Bürgergeld) is financial support from the German state. It helps people who cannot cover their living costs on their own. It replaced Hartz IV in 2023.
How much is the citizens' allowance?
Citizens' allowance depends on your needs and your housing costs. Each person in your household has a fixed monthly allowance.
Here is how much each family member gets.
- Single people / Single parents: 563€
- Couples: 506€ per partner
- Non-working children under 25 years of age living with their parents: 451€
- Young people (14 to 17): 471€
- Children (6 to 13): 390€
- Children (0 to 5): 357€
On top of it, the state covers the actual costs of accommodation and heating as long as they are reasonable.
Example: Suppose you are a married couple with a 7-year-old daughter. You have no income right now. Your monthly rent is 1000€ (warm). You pay 100€ per month for heating.
This is how much citizens' allowance you can get.
506€ (You) + 506€ (your partner) + 390€ (your 7 year old daughter) + 1000€ (rent) + 100€ (heating) = 2502€ per month
Who is eligible for the citizens' allowance?
You can apply for the citizens' allowance if you:
- are a German citizen, an EU citizen, or have a resident permit,
- live in Germany,
- are employable,
- are at least 15 years old and not yet retired,
- cannot earn enough to support yourself,
- or your income is too low to cover basic living costs
NOTE: If you are on a job seeker visa, you are not eligible for the citizens' allowance. How do you apply for the citizens' allowance?
You must apply for a citizens' allowance at your local Jobcenter. You can also apply online.
The application form for the citizens' allowance can be found on the website of the Federal Employment Agency.
If you need support, you can call the helpline or inquire at the job center. They only offer support in German.
If you don't speak German, ask a friend who can translate for you.
For how long do you get the citizens' allowance?
Bürgergeld is usually approved for 12 months at a time. If you still qualify after that, you can reapply and continue receiving support.
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Free Webinar: Surviving the German Foreigners’ Office
Stuck waiting for an appointment? Emails unanswered? Residence permit about to expire? You’re not alone — and there are solutions.
Join us for a free live webinar with immigration lawyer Mr. Spirin, where he’ll share your rights, practical steps, and when it makes sense to get legal help.
What you’ll learn:
- My visa is about to expire, but I can’t get an appointment — what happens now?
- What is a Fiktionsbescheinigung and how do I request one?
- How long does it normally take to get a Blue Card or work visa processed?
- The Foreign Office isn’t replying to my emails or calls — what can I do?
- Can I keep working if my residence permit expired but I applied on time?
- How can I speed up my citizenship or permanent residency application?
- Can I apply in another city or state if my local office is too slow?
- Do I need a lawyer, or can I handle the Foreign Office on my own?
- What happens if I travel abroad while my renewal is still pending?
- What legal actions are possible if the Foreign Office delays too much?
Date & Time: 25 Sept, 16:00 to 17:00
Where: Online (join from anywhere in Germany)
Cost: Free
Register here: https://luma.com/8juef98m
Spots are limited — secure yours today and get your toughest visa questions answered!
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Germany's Parliament Approved The 2025 Budget
- Total federal expenditure is set at €502.5 billion
- Investments are projected at almost €116 billion
- Net new borrowing in 2025 is estimated at about €82 billion.
- €122.5 billion will go to pensions and €52 billion for unemployment benefits.
- The defense budget will reach €62 billion, boosted by another €24 billion from a special defense fund, for a total over €86 billion.
Record levels of investment are targeted at economic recovery and modernization, especially in railways, housing, and the low-carbon transition.
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A Request 🙏
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You can help us compete in Google search by leaving reviews on Google. These really (yes, really) help and are a vital part of Google's discovery and recommendation algorithms.
So, if you find what we are doing helpful, please leave a simple star rating or a short review on Google. This will help more users discover GermanPedia.
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Latest News
- Donald Trump plans to impose a $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas. This move will hit the tech sector that relies on skilled workers from India and China hard. [1]
- Three Russian fighter jets violated Estonia’s airspace for 12 minutes on September 19. NATO intercepted the jets, Estonia summoned Russia’s envoy, and the government requested Article 4 consultations. [2]
- Two unexploded WWII bombs were discovered in Berlin. One in the Spree River near Mitte, another in Spandau. Nearly 20,000 people were evacuated. [3]
- Germany’s Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said Berlin is open to using frozen Russian assets, though any steps must be legally examined. So far, the EU has only used interest from the assets. [4]
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Community Shoutouts! 📣
- C24* is offering a 75€ bonus for opening a new account. You must also transfer your existing checking account using the CHECK24 account switching service.
- Perplexity is offering a 12-month Pro subscription for free. You can sign up here.
- Join our Facebook community. Ask questions, share experiences, join webinars, and stay updated about your rights, laws, and latest changes in real time.
- Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram, and Pinterest to get more insights about Germany daily.
Whether it's a must-visit place, a life hack, or an inspiring story, we’d love to hear from you.
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