Factsheet for measure
DE-2020-11/1695
–
Updated
– measures in Germany
Easing access to basic income scheme
Vereinfachter Zugang zur Grundsicherung (BMAS/BMFSFJ)
Background information
Germany's pandemic response, including lock-downs, social distancing measures, occupational bans and business confinements, has disproportionally affected low-wage workers and self-employed workers (Hövermann 2020). With six million employees working under Germany's short-time work scheme (Kurzarbeit) already back in April 2020, income top-ups such as child benefits, housing benefits or unemployment benefits have increased in importance (Focus online 2020). An increasing number of workers are in need of social benefits to replace or top up their income from work with social benefits.
Content of measure
To prevent financial hardship, the government has eased access to Germany's basic income scheme (Grundsicherung). Applicants do not need to declare their savings, unless these are substantial. Cost of housing and gas are taken into account in their actual amount, instead of applying general rates. Easier access to the basic income scheme was granted until the end of 2020 initially and has now again been extended until the end of March 2022.
The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs both provide information on their websites for workers wishing to apply for benefits.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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01 January 2023
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The measure is no longer valid. It expired on 1 January 2023.
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23 February 2022
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Due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic, the federal government has extended the measure until December 31, 2022.
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24 November 2021
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In November 2021, the Federal Government extended the measure until 31 March 2022 (BMG 2021).
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Use of measure
In early 2021, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs commissioned a scientific evaluation of different social policy measures related to the social and economic impact of pandemic control measures. The study (BMAS 2021), based on a survey among sixty experts of social and labour market policy, found that experts attributed an efficient implementation but a moderate socio-economic effectiveness to this policy measure.
In the unemployment statistics of the Federal Employment Agency (BA 2021), only an approximation is made of how many employed persons in the COVID-19 crisis have access to basic income scheme (Grundsicherung): In September 2021, a total of 196,900 non-unemployed workers had access to basic income. This was about 52,000 more than in September 2019 (before the crisis).
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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No involvement
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No involvement
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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No involvement
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Main level of involvement: N/A
Involvement
Social partners are usually consulted by the Federal Government when drafting national laws or other major regulations concerning the labour market. No formal tripartite social dialogue structure exists to design pandemic control measures. Germany's pandemic response is based on government by decrees, without parliamentary participation. Public statements by both social partners have informally influenced the policy design of BMFSFJ measures.
Views and reactions
Public statements by social partners have informally influenced the design of BMFSFJ policy measure related to the government's pandemic response.
Sources
