Germany Court Bars Full Disability Pension Recipients from Receiving Basic Security Benefits

The Landessozialgericht Berlin‑Brandenburg ruled that individuals who receive a full Erwerbsminderungsrente (disability pension) are excluded from Grundsicherungsgeld, the basic security benefit formerly known as Bürgergeld. The ruling states that the benefit is available only to persons capable of work, and therefore the Jobcenter must terminate payments, including education vouchers, and transfer responsibility for livelihood support to the Sozialamt.

In a related policy development, the Alterssicherungskommission has recommended extending the permitted probework period for disability‑pension recipients from six months to twelve months. The proposal aims to give claimants more time to test a return to work without risking loss of their pension entitlement, although the change has not yet become law.