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.
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.
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.
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?
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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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