Bürgergeld Rechner Icon Bürgergeld Rechner
✨ SGB II Reform Status 2026 • Smart Calculation Engine

Bürgergeld Rechner

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1. 1. Personal Situation & Age
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2. 3. Rent & Heating Costs (KdU)
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3. 4. Income & Protected Assets
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4. Your Estimated Bürgergeld Entitlement

1. Personal Situation & Age

Select your marital status and age of applicant(s).

Household Structure

Number of Children in Household

3. Rent & Heating Costs (KdU)

Enter your actual monthly expenses for accommodation.

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€
€
Karenzzeit Schutzregel: Im 1. Bezugsjahr werden die Kosten für die Kaltmiete in tatsächlicher Höhe übernommen. Heizkosten werden in angemessener Höhe erstattet.

4. Income & Protected Assets

Enter earned income, child benefit, and current savings.

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€
€
€

Your Estimated Bürgergeld Entitlement

Estimated Net Payout Amount

Estimated Net Payout Amount
1.213,00 €
SGB II 2026
Total Household Need: 1.213,00 €
Accommodation Costs (Rent + Heating): 650,00 €
Minus Deductible Income: -0,00 €
⚡ Statutory Reform 2026

Bürgergeld is now called Grundsicherungsgeld

Since July 1, 2026, the reformed SGB II legislation applies. Here are the key facts at a glance:

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Placement Priority

Reasonable job offers have binding priority once again.

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Age-Tiered Protected Assets

€10,000 (up to 30 yrs), €5,000 (up to 40 yrs), €12,500 (up to 50 yrs), €20,000 (from 50 yrs)

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Seamless Payouts

Existing benefit notices and payments continue automatically.

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Official Name

Since July 1, 2026, the benefit is officially named Grundsicherungsgeld (SGB II)

Visual Calculation Model (SGB II Formula)

How your monthly payout entitlement is composed from statutory building blocks

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Building Block 1

Standard Rate (Regelbedarf)

€563 Single, €506 Partner, €357–471 Children

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Building Block 2

Additional Needs

Single parents (+12–36%), Pregnant (+17%)

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Building Block 3

Housing Costs (KdU)

Net Rent + Utilities + Heating

▼ = Gross Total Need
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Deduction 1

Deductible Income

Net income minus allowances (§ 11b SGB II)

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Deduction 2

Excess Asset Deduction

Savings above statutory allowance limits (€5k–€20k)

Final Formula Result

= Your Monthly Bürgergeld Entitlement

The exact monthly amount is transferred directly to your bank account by your local Jobcenter.

Earned Income Allowances (§ 11b SGB II)

Work pays off: How much of your gross income remains exempt from deduction

Gross Range: 0 – 100 €
Allowance: 100 %

Basic Allowance – always 100% exempt from deduction

Gross Range: 100 – 520 €
Allowance: 20 %

Earnings between €100 and €520 (Minijob limit)

Gross Range: 520 – 1.000 €
Allowance: 30 %

Highest allowance percentage rate for Midijob income

Gross Range: 1.000 – 1.200 € (1.500 € mit Kind)
Allowance: 10 %

Extended tier when children live in the household

Maximum Allowance: Without children, the maximum allowance is €348. With minor children in the household, the limit increases to €378!

Official Bürgergeld Standard Rates 2026

Statutory standard needs under SGB II

Category Person Group Standard Needs Rate
Stufe 1 Single Adults / Single Parents 563 €
Stufe 2 Partners in Household (per person) 506 €
Stufe 3 Adults in household without own household 451 €
Stufe 4 Youths aged 14 to 17 years 471 €
Stufe 5 Children aged 6 to 13 years 390 €
Stufe 6 Children aged 0 to 5 years 357 €

Calculate Bürgergeld – 8-Step Guide

Determine your exact statutory entitlement step by step

1

Determine Standard Rate

Assign each household member to their correct standard rate category

2

Add Additional Needs

Check for pregnancy, single parenting, disability, or decentralized water heating

3

Add Housing Costs (KdU)

Add actual reasonable net rent, service charges, and heating costs

4

Calculate Gross Total Need

Standard rate + Additional needs + Housing costs = Gross total need

5

Adjust Income

Deduct statutory earned income allowances (§ 11b SGB II) from gross income

6

Check Protected Assets

Check savings against age-tiered statutory protection limits

7

Clarify Priority Benefits

Check priority for child supplement (Kinderzuschlag), housing benefit, or maintenance

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Calculate Net Entitlement

Subtract net deductible income from gross total household need

8 Practical Calculation Examples (SGB II 2026)

Bürgergeld Calculation in Practice

Compare your personal situation with typical case examples and detailed sample calculations.

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Example 1: Single without Income

Single Person
Formula / Breakdown:
520 € (Kaltmiete) + (Regelsatz) 563 €
Estimated Entitlement: 1.113,00 €

A single adult without income receives full Category 1 standard rate plus reasonable rent and heating costs.

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Example 2: Couple without Children, without Income

Couple Together
Formula / Breakdown:
750 € (Warmmiete) + (Regelsätze) 506 € * 2
Estimated Entitlement: 1.762,00 €

Both partners receive Category 2 standard rate of €506 each plus shared reasonable rent.

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Example 3: Family with 2 Children (4 & 9 yrs)

Family 4 Persons
Formula / Breakdown:
1.050 € (Miete) + 1.759 € (Regelbedarf) - 500 € (Kindergeld)
Estimated Entitlement: 2.291,00 €

Standard rate (€506+€506+€357+€390) plus rent equals €2,809 total need. After deducting 2x €250 child benefit, €2,291 entitlement remains.

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Example 4: Single Parent with Child (5 yrs)

Single Parent
Formula / Breakdown:
203 € (Mehrbedarf) + 620 € (Miete) + 950 € (Regelsätze) - 250 € (Kindergeld)
Estimated Entitlement: 1.514,00 €

Includes 36% additional need for single parenting (€203). After deducting child benefit, €1,514 entitlement arises.

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Example 5: Student in University

Special Case BAföG
Formula / Breakdown:
Vorrangige Leistung BAföG
Estimated Entitlement: Ergänzende KdU

Generally no Bürgergeld entitlement due to BAföG priority. Exception: Students with children receive supplementary housing cost benefits.

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Example 6: Pensioner above Retirement Age

SGB XII Security
Formula / Breakdown:
Grundsicherung im Alter (SGB XII)
Estimated Entitlement: SGB XII Leistung

No Bürgergeld due to exceeding statutory retirement age. Instead, basic security in old age under SGB XII applies.

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Example 7: Single with Minijob (€603 gross)

Minijob Income
Formula / Breakdown:
Gesamtbedarf 1.113 € - 394,10 € (angerechnetes Einkommen)
Estimated Entitlement: 718,90 €

Allowance: €100 + €84 (20% of €420) + €24.90 (20% of €83) = €208.90. Deductible: €394.10. Bürgergeld in addition to wage.

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Example 8: Single Part-Time (€1,200 gross, €950 net)

Part-Time Worker
Formula / Breakdown:
Gesamtbedarf 1.113 € - 602,00 € (angerechnetes Einkommen)
Estimated Entitlement: 511,00 €

Maximum allowance of €348 applies. Net €950 - €348 = €602 deductible. Payout entitlement: €511 in addition to salary.

Comparison Tables & Social Benefits Check

Direct comparison of Bürgergeld with Housing Benefit (Wohngeld), Child Supplement, and Unemployment Benefit I (ALG I)

Bürgergeld (Grundsicherungsgeld) vs. Housing Benefit (Wohngeld)

Feature Bürgergeld (Grundsicherungsgeld) Housing Benefit (Wohngeld)
Covers Living Expenses Yes, fully (Standard rate + Housing costs) No, only lump-sum housing subsidy
Responsible Agency Jobcenter (Federal Employment Agency & Municipality) Local Municipal Housing Office (Wohngeldstelle)
Asset Check Yes (Age-tiered protected allowances) No (Only simplified plausibility check)
Cooperation Duties Yes (Appointments, applications, measures) No (No job placement obligations)
Suitable For People without sufficient income People with income that almost suffices

Bürgergeld vs. Unemployment Benefit I (ALG I)

Feature Bürgergeld (Grundsicherungsgeld) Unemployment Benefit I (ALG I)
Legal Basis SGB II (Welfare Benefit) SGB III (Insurance Contribution Benefit)
Prerequisites Neediness & Employability Prior contribution periods (min. 12 months)
Amount Standard Rate + Reasonable KdU 60% – 67% of last net income
Duration Unlimited (as long as neediness exists) Time-limited (usually 6 to 24 months)
SGB II Guide & Statutory Status 2026

Bürgergeld Calculator 2026: Calculate Your Entitlement Step by Step

If your income suddenly drops, you lose your job, or your salary is no longer enough to cover living costs, the question quickly arises: How much Bürgergeld am I entitled to? The answer depends on many factors – rent, income, children, savings.

Important to know: Since July 1, 2026, the benefit is officially named Grundsicherungsgeld (Basic Security for Jobseekers). The underlying calculation logic remains unchanged.

1. What is Bürgergeld (Grundsicherungsgeld)?

Bürgergeld – officially Grundsicherungsgeld since July 2026 – is Germany's state basic security for jobseekers under Social Code II (SGB II). It ensures the minimum subsistence level.

The responsible agency is the Jobcenter. The benefit consists of several building blocks:

  • Standard Needs Rate (Regelbedarf) for daily living expenses,
  • Costs of Accommodation and Heating (KdU - rent and utilities),
  • Possible Additional Needs (e.g. single parents, pregnancy),
  • Health and long-term care insurance contributions.

2. Who is Eligible for Bürgergeld?

You are eligible for Grundsicherungsgeld if you meet all of the following requirements simultaneously:

  • You are between 15 years old and the statutory retirement age.
  • You are capable of working at least 3 hours daily.
  • You are in financial need (income/assets do not cover living costs).
  • Your habitual residence is in Germany.

3. Income & Allowances (§ 11b SGB II)

Not every euro of income reduces your benefit 1-to-1. Statutory allowances ensure work always pays off:

  • First €100 gross earned income is 100% exempt from deduction (Basic Allowance).
  • Between €100 and €520 gross, an additional 20% remains exempt.
  • Between €520 and €1,000 gross, an additional 30% remains exempt.
  • Between €1,000 and €1,200 gross, an additional 10% remains exempt (up to €1,500 with children).

4. Protected Assets (Schonvermögen) 2026

Since the July 1, 2026 reform, age-tiered protected asset limits apply to new applications:

  • Up to 30 years: €5,000
  • Up to 40 years: €10,000
  • Up to 50 years: €12,500
  • Over 50 years: €20,000

An owner-occupied home of reasonable size and an appropriate motor vehicle (up to €15,000 market value) do not count towards assets.

5. Rent & Heating Costs (Accommodation)

In addition to the standard rate, the Jobcenter covers reasonable rent and heating costs under § 22 SGB II.

Avoid Common Application Errors:

  • Confusing warm rent and net cold rent
  • Failing to apply tiered earned income allowances
  • Forgetting child benefit (Kindergeld) as child's income
  • Overlooking priority benefits like housing benefit (Wohngeld)

6. Summary & Recommendation

Calculating Bürgergeld entitlement involves multiple variables. Our Bürgergeld Calculator takes care of the math and shows your realistic payout in minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Essential answers regarding Bürgergeld, allowances, and housing costs

How high is Bürgergeld 2026 for a single person?
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The standard rate for single individuals in 2026 is €563 per month, plus reasonable housing and heating costs. Total monthly entitlement typically ranges between €900 and €1,200 depending on rent levels.
Add your household standard rate, additional needs, and reasonable warm rent. Deduct your net income adjusted for statutory allowances. The remainder is your estimated monthly benefit.
Yes. Since July 1, 2026, Grundsicherungsgeld officially replaces the term Bürgergeld in SGB II law. Calculation logic remains unchanged.
The household unit includes the employable applicant, spouse/partner, and unmarried children under 25 living in the same home.
Yes, Child Benefit (€259 per child) counts as child income and is deducted from their standard needs rate.
For a Minijob up to €603 (2026), you keep a maximum allowance of €208.90. The remaining earnings are deducted.
Since the July 1, 2026 reform, age-tiered asset limits apply to new applications: €5,000 up to age 30, €10,000 up to age 40, €12,500 up to age 50, and €20,000 above age 50.
Excess savings must generally be used to support yourself before becoming eligible for Bürgergeld.
No, only rent deemed reasonable for your local municipality and household size is fully covered.
No, household electricity costs are included in the standard rate and are not paid separately.
Single parents receive an additional allowance of 12% to 36% of the Category 1 standard rate, depending on the number and age of children.
Generally no, as BAföG-eligible students are excluded. Exceptions apply to student parents for supplementary housing benefits.
No, after reaching statutory retirement age, you are eligible for Grundsicherung im Alter under SGB XII instead.
Regelbedarf is the legally calculated need, while Regelsatz is the everyday term for the payout amount. Both amounts are identical.
Yes, because housing costs vary greatly by region and form a significant portion of total entitlement.
The Kindersofortzuschlag is a monthly supplement of €25 per child paid on top of the standard rate.
Yes, Housing Benefit and Child Supplement (Kinderzuschlag) are priority benefits that must be used if they cover your needs.
An appropriate personal vehicle with a market value up to approx. €15,000 per employable person is exempt from asset count.
For new applications from July 1, 2026, the 1-year grace period is replaced by age-tiered asset protection limits from day one.
Standard rates are adjusted annually on January 1st based on statutory wage and inflation formulas.

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