The German government is planning to freeze the amount of citizens' income next year. According to BILD, the Ministry of Labor has prepared a document according to which 5.6 million benefit recipients will not receive an increase in 2025.
This means that a single person will receive 563 euros per month, as now. Child benefits will also remain at the current level:
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357 euros for ages 0–6,
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390 euros for 7–14 years old,
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471 euros for 15–18 years old.
The decision is explained by the fact that after a sharp increase in inflation in 2024, when the standard rate increased by 61 euros, the rate of price increases has now slowed significantly. According to government calculations, payments currently exceed the required level, but they are prohibited from reducing them, so the option of zero increase was chosen.
At the same time, for asylum seekers, the benefit will increase by 14 euros - to 455 euros per month.
Labor Minister Barbel Bas also announced tougher sanctions against beneficiaries who fail to attend job center appointments or refuse to work without good reason. Under the new rules, benefits could be immediately reduced by 30%, and in the event of repeated refusals, they could even be stopped altogether.
“We offer stronger support on the path to employment, but for those who don’t participate, life will become significantly more difficult,” Bass said.
