Social assistance

After around 40 years of existence, the Federal Social Assistance Act has been transferred to the Social Code and adapted to economic and social changes. It came into force as the 12th Social Code (Social Code XII or SGB XII) on 1 January 2005.
Social assistance continues to protect against poverty and social exclusion; it provides benefits for those individuals and households who are unable to meet their needs from their own resources and do not have sufficient insurance and pension benefits.
The previous division into the areas of assistance for subsistence and assistance in special circumstances has been abolished in favour of differentiated benefits for specific circumstances.

Social assistance in its new form comprises the following areas:
1. Assistance with living expenses
2. Basic security in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity
3. Health assistance
4. Integration assistance for disabled people
5. Care assistance
6. Assistance to overcome particular social difficulties
7. Assistance in other life situations as well as counselling and support.

Anyone between the ages of 15 and 65 who is able to work receives benefits in accordance with Book II of the German Social Code (SGB II) - basic income support for jobseekers.

Legal bases in general

Social Code Twelfth Book (SGB XII)