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Citizens' benefit 2025 will remain the same: zero round causes outrage!
In 2025, citizens' money will remain unchanged, despite public criticism and current socio-political challenges.
Citizens' benefit 2025 will remain the same: zero round causes outrage!
Citizens' money, which has been in use since 2023 as the successor to Hartz IV, is under discussion again, as no increase in standard rates is planned from January 2025. This was decided yesterday, August 30, 2025, by the Federal Cabinet and the Federal Council. This zero round is causing criticism because many people who rely on this money can hardly benefit from the positive economic developments in Germany.
According to the Federal Ministry of Labor, citizen's benefit is a basic life support for around 5.6 million people in Germany. Officials have already raised the standard rates in line with inflation in 2024. However, this increase is the last as no further adjustment will be made for 2025. The standard rates remain at 563 euros for single people and 506 euros for partners in communities of need. Contributions are also fixed for young people and children.
Rule sets at a glance
| groups | Standard rate (Euro) |
|---|---|
| Single people/single parents | 563 |
| Couples per partner/community of need | 506 |
| Adults in institutions | 451 |
| Young people 14-17 years old | 471 |
| Children aged 6-13 | 390 |
| Children 0-5 years | 357 |
The statutory property protection regulation (§28a paragraph 5 SGB XII) ensures that the amounts cannot be reduced, which is important in times of falling living costs. The calculation of the citizen's allowance is based on a mixed index of 70 percent price and 30 percent wage development. Despite the current, reduced cost of living, the amount remains unchanged.
Political reactions and future prospects
Federal Labor Minister Bärbel Bas is also planning to introduce tougher sanctions for recipients of citizens' benefits, especially if deadlines are not met. Furthermore, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) sharply criticizes the current social system and calls for far-reaching reforms in order to make the system fit for the future.
There are already forecasts for 2026 that no increase is to be expected this year either. The spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Labor confirmed the zero round and pointed out that the final decision on any adjustments will not be made until next year. Particular attention is paid to the Deutsche Bundesbank's forecast, which predicts an inflation rate of around 2.2 percent.
Expenditure on citizens' benefit is currently around 47 billion euros annually, and in 2024 there were around 5.5 million citizens' benefit recipients, of whom almost 4 million are considered employable.
Criticism and uncertainty about the future of citizens' money remain, and many citizens are hoping for improvements that will provide them with financial relief.
For more detailed information and background information on current developments, you can read the reporting from South Courier and the analysis of daily news read.