German pensioner must sell land to qualify for social aid

The Social Court in Lüneburg ruled that a pensioner living in Handeloh, Lower Saxony, must first sell her 2,130‑square‑metre property before receiving basic social assistance. While the 72‑square‑metre house itself was deemed appropriately sized, the surrounding land was classified as disposable assets worth €260,000. The welfare authorities offered a loan‑based benefit only if the pensioner placed a mortgage on the property, which she refused. The court rejected her claim for a grant, stating that the public must not finance assets considered sellable, and that the pensioner must use any available wealth to cover living costs before the state intervenes.