Germany is reforming the Bürgergeld, renaming it Grundsicherung, with tighter sanctions aimed at steering recipients into work and prioritizing job placement over Weiterbildung, including stricter penalties for missed appointments.

Under the plan, two missed job-center appointments trigger a 30% benefits cut, a third missed appointment could suspend payments and send rent directly to landlords, though authorities must offer a hearing or call beforehand.

In some cases, individuals could lose all benefits, including housing support, if they repeatedly become unreachable, though safeguards exist to ensure due process.

Social associations, Green and Left party representatives, and legal groups argue the plan does not adequately protect vulnerable groups and may raise constitutional concerns about total withdrawal of basic needs.

Stakeholders like the Parity League, Arbeiterwohlfahrt, and DIHK respond with concern for the poor but some cautiously support work incentives.

Savings from the reform are disputed: some Union politicians claim potential billions, while the government expects little direct savings from the measures themselves and counts on higher employment.

The reform faces internal criticism after lengthy coalition debates, with worries about constitutionality, effectiveness, and social impact voiced by SPD factions and social groups.

Sanctions disproportionately affect vulnerable groups such as mentally ill individuals, untrained workers, and single parents, challenging the stereotype that only lazy recipients are targeted.

Critics warn the changes may not deliver real savings and could worsen hardship; Diakonie Deutschland and the Workers' Welfare Association call for better support and placement services rather than punitive measures.

Opposition from social organizations and parts of the SPD cites risks of hardship and homelessness; legality hinges on protecting the existential minimum, with the Bundesverfassungsgericht previously allowing sanctions under proportionality safeguards.

Some observers label the reform as populist and a step toward dismantling welfare, fueling broader concerns about the social state’s future.

New element: those deemed not reachable must be given a hearing before benefits are cut, aiming to protect vulnerable groups, including people with mental health issues.