As of August 11, 2024, many recipients of the Bürgergeld in Germany are struggling to cover additional costs for rent and heating, with around one in nine households affected.

A response from the German government revealed that the average housing gap was approximately 103 euros nationwide, with Niedersachsen at 107 euros and Bremen at 105 euros.

Hundreds of thousands of citizens receiving the Bürgergeld must pay extra for rent and heating costs because their housing is deemed inadequate.

Bürgergeld recipients have their rent and heating costs covered by the state, but only if their housing is deemed appropriate according to regional standards set by local authorities.

Households with children experienced the highest expenses, averaging about 124 euros monthly for additional costs.

Long-term recipients, often single parents and caregivers, are left to cover the shortfall from their basic allowances meant for food and clothing.

The Left Party and social organizations are advocating for an increase in cost limits to ensure housing can be adequately covered.

Regional disparities exist, with the highest percentages of additional payments in Rheinland-Pfalz (17%), Baden-Württemberg (15%), and Niedersachsen (14%).

In Bremen, the proportion of households facing this issue was lower at 7.7%.

Heidi Reichinnek, a Left Party MP from Osnabrück, criticized the worsening housing gap despite the implementation of a grace period last year.

Social organizations criticize the current rent limits as unrealistic, asserting that many recipients cannot find affordable housing, forcing them to allocate funds away from essential needs like food and clothing.