The Basic Rule: 15,000 EUR Per Person
The core asset exemption for Bürgergeld in 2026 is straightforward: each person in the Bedarfsgemeinschaft (benefit unit) may hold up to 15,000 EUR in assets without affecting their eligibility. For a single person, this means 15,000 EUR. For a couple, 30,000 EUR. For a family of four (two adults, two children), 60,000 EUR. This is a significant improvement over the original Hartz IV rules, which used a lower, age-based formula that often left middle-aged applicants with very little protected savings.
The 15,000 EUR limit applies to verwertbares Vermögen (realizable assets) -- assets that could reasonably be liquidated or used to cover living costs. Not everything you own counts toward this limit. The law specifically protects several categories of assets, which we will examine in detail below.
If your total assessable assets exceed the exemption, you are not automatically disqualified from Bürgergeld. Instead, you are expected to spend down the excess before benefits begin. The Jobcenter will calculate how long your excess assets should last (based on your monthly Bedarf) and may deny benefits for that period. However, you can still apply, and the Jobcenter cannot require you to sell protected assets or act unreasonably to liquidate holdings.
Protected Assets: What You Can Keep
Vehicles
Each employable adult in the Bedarfsgemeinschaft may keep one appropriate motor vehicle with a market value of up to 15,000 EUR. This means a couple can keep two cars worth up to 15,000 EUR each without any impact on their Bürgergeld eligibility. The vehicle does not need to be essential for work -- it is protected simply as a standard personal asset.
If a vehicle's value exceeds 15,000 EUR, only the amount above the threshold counts toward your assessable assets. For example, a car worth 20,000 EUR would add 5,000 EUR to your asset calculation. The Jobcenter assesses vehicle value based on used-car market guides (such as Schwacke or DAT) rather than the purchase price or sentimental value.
Owner-Occupied Property (Selbstgenutzte Immobilie)
A self-occupied residential property of appropriate size is fully protected from the asset check. The size thresholds are approximately 130 square meters of living space (or 120 square meters for an apartment) for a four-person household, with adjustments for larger or smaller households. A moderate amount of land (typically up to 800 square meters in urban areas or more in rural areas) is also protected.
This protection applies regardless of the property's market value. A family living in a paid-off house worth 500,000 EUR can still receive Bürgergeld if they meet all other criteria, because the home is self-occupied and of appropriate size. However, a second property, a vacation home, or investment real estate is not protected and must be counted (or sold if it pushes assets above the limit).
Retirement Savings (Altersvorsorge)
Retirement savings products enjoy special protection. Riester-Rente savings are fully exempt from the asset check, with no upper limit. Company pension schemes (betriebliche Altersvorsorge) accumulated during employment are typically protected. Private retirement insurance products may be protected if they include a clause preventing withdrawal before retirement age (Verwertungsausschluss). Standard savings or investment accounts earmarked for retirement are not automatically protected -- only formally designated retirement products qualify.
Household Goods and Personal Items
Appropriate household furnishings, clothing, and personal items are not counted as assets. This is interpreted broadly -- your furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing, books, and personal effects are safe. Only genuinely valuable individual items (such as expensive jewelry, art collections, or luxury goods) might be counted if their value is substantial.
Grace Period Rules (Karenzzeit-Vermögen)
During the first 12 months of receiving Bürgergeld (the Karenzzeit), a significantly higher asset exemption applies. The first person in the Bedarfsgemeinschaft may hold up to 40,000 EUR in assets, and each additional person may hold up to 15,000 EUR. For a couple, this means 55,000 EUR. For a family of four, 70,000 EUR.
The Karenzzeit is designed to prevent people from having to liquidate savings immediately upon becoming unemployed. It acknowledges that many people have built up modest savings over years of work and should not be forced to spend everything before receiving any support. After the 12-month grace period, the standard exemption of 15,000 EUR per person applies.
The grace period resets after you have been off Bürgergeld for at least six consecutive months. If you leave the benefit system, work for six months or more, and later return, you receive a fresh Karenzzeit with the higher asset limits.
What Counts as Assessable Assets?
The following are typically counted toward your asset limit: bank account balances (checking, savings, money market accounts), stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs in brokerage accounts, cash savings held at home, life insurance policies with a cash surrender value (Rückkaufswert), non-self-occupied real estate (rental properties, vacation homes, building lots), valuable collectibles and precious metals, and cryptocurrency holdings.
The following are typically not counted: the protected items described above (appropriate vehicle, self-occupied home, designated retirement savings, household goods), assets that cannot be liquidated within a reasonable timeframe, assets where liquidation would cause a disproportionate loss of value (the Jobcenter must consider this on a case-by-case basis), and rights to future inheritance or pending legal claims.
Practical Tips for the Asset Check
First, document everything. The Jobcenter will request bank statements for all accounts for the last three months. Unexplained large deposits or withdrawals will trigger additional questions. If you transferred money to family or friends shortly before applying, the Jobcenter may view this as an attempt to hide assets (which can result in benefit denial and even fraud charges).
Second, know the difference between income and assets. A one-time payment received while on Bürgergeld (such as a tax refund, gift, or insurance payout) is typically counted as income in the month it is received, not as an ongoing asset. Income counting rules may be more favorable in some cases.
Third, if you are close to the asset limit, consider whether protected forms of saving might apply. Contributing to a Riester-Rente before applying, for example, converts assessable assets into protected retirement savings. However, this must be done genuinely and not as a last-minute maneuver to circumvent the rules -- the Jobcenter can challenge obvious asset-shifting strategies.
Fourth, if the Jobcenter denies your application based on excess assets, carefully check their calculation. Errors in vehicle valuation, misidentification of retirement products, or failure to properly account for all household members' individual exemptions are common grounds for successful objections (Widerspruch).
Finally, remember that the asset check is a snapshot at the time of your application (and at each renewal). If your assets decline naturally over time -- through living expenses during the application processing period, for example -- you may become eligible even if you were initially over the limit. Reapply as soon as your assessable assets fall below the exemption threshold.