SPD revolts against CDU plan to reform Bürgergeld

Germany’s CDU/CSU-SPD government is in disagreement over the CDU’s plan to restrict access to long-term unemployment benefits (Bürgergeld). The reform is due to happen in January 2026. 

SPD launch membership petition against Bürgergeld reforms

Members of the SPD, a junior partner in the current German government, have launched a membership petition against CDU/CSU plans to restrict access to the long-term unemployment benefit, also known as Bürgergeld or Citizens’ Allowance.

The petition was initiated by the Young Socialists (Juso), a volunteer youth organisation connected to the SPD and Bundestag members Maria Noichl and Aziz Bozkurt. “The SPD should not go along with a politics which punishes poverty,” the petition reads.

“Sanctions which threaten the minimum subsisdence level contradict human dignity,” the appeal continues, calling on SPD members to redirect conversations about Bürgergeld to the causes of poverty rather than symbolic political measures which “indulge populist claims”. 

Over the next three months 20 percent of SPD members, around 3.750 people, across at least 10 branches in three federal states will have to sign the petition. If this quota is reached, party leaders can decide whether or not to formally reject the CDU/CSU’s proposal. If they do decide to reject the proposal, existing tensions in coalition relations may well resurface.

What changes from Bürgergeld to Neue Grundsicherung?

Bürgergeld is separate from Germany’s main unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld). Residents can apply for Bürgergeld when their entitlement to Arbeitslosengeld has expired. Sometimes, the benefit can also be claimed by people on a low income. In 2025, single Bürgergeld recipients receive a monthly payment of 563 euros.

So what exactly are the changes that the CDU/CSU plans to make? Firstly, Bürgergeld is to be renamed “Neue Grundsicherung” or “New Basic Security”. If the reform is passed, starting in January 2026, claimants who miss two scheduled meetings at the job centre will have their long-term unemployment benefit cut by 30 percent. 

Recipients who miss three meetings will have their support cut altogether, including any housing benefit (Wohngeld) they receive. Certain groups will be exempt from these sanctions, for example people with mental health problems.

Recipients who reject a job offer will have their Neue Grundsicherung payments cut, but not their Wohngeld support. Finally, the government will cut off all payments to claimants who make further “violations”. 

The government will also reduce the period in which claimants' assets are protected. So that unemployed people didn’t have to dip into their savings if they lost their job, until now they have been able to claim Bürgergeld for 12 months before the job centre considers their savings or other assets.

With Neue Grundsicherung, this grace period will be scrapped and the list of assets which people can have and still claim the benefit, will be reduced. The rules will not be uniform, but based on age and social security contributions.

Despite inflation, in 2026, the monthly amount will continue to be 563 euros per single adult and between 357 and 471 euros per child depending on the child's age. This marks the second consecutive year that the monthly payment amount hasn’t been increased.