Bundessozialgericht rules no renewal application needed for SGB XII benefits

The Federal Social Court (Bundessozialgericht) has ruled that recipients of basic income for old age and reduced earning capacity under SGB XII are not required to submit a new application once an initial approval period expires.

Unlike benefits under SGB II, which require a renewal application to continue receiving support, the court determined that an initial application under SGB XII is not limited to a specific timeframe. The court reasoned that because these benefits are often granted permanently due to permanent circumstances—such as reaching retirement age or having a long-term disability—the original application remains valid for subsequent periods unless the authority has explicitly and legally rejected benefits for the following period.

This ruling clarifies that the expiration of a time-limited approval notice does not constitute an automatic rejection of benefits for the following period. This is particularly relevant for local authorities, such as in Kiel, which previously denied benefits for gaps between the end of an approval period and the submission of a declaration of continued need.