Germany to tie Bürgergeld mobility allowance to mandatory public transport ticket

The CDU faction in North Rhine‑Westphalia plans to replace the €50 mobility allowance that recipients of Bürgergeld (the German welfare benefit) currently receive with a mandatory Deutschlandticket. The ticket, which costs €63 per month from January 2026, would be provided automatically instead of cash. Legal experts note that such a switch would require a change to federal social law, as the current SGB II only allows a cash benefit or a limited‑case conversion to a Sachleistung.

Across Germany there is no nationwide discount for Bürgergeld recipients. Some regions already offer reduced fares: the Verkehrsverbund Rhein‑Ruhr (VRR) lists a €53 social ticket, Freiburg provides the ticket for €38, Baden‑Baden adds a €10 monthly subsidy, and Regensburg offers it for €31.50 with a city‑pass. Eligibility depends on local authorities and proof of benefit receipt. The mobility allowance will be renamed Grundsicherungsgeld on 1 July 2026, but the proposal to make the ticket compulsory remains under discussion.