Our cash benefits
The financial benefits you receive from us are based on your individual needs. These are intended to ensure basic security for your livelihood. They consist of the standard benefit plus the proportional reasonable costs for accommodation and heating. Under certain conditions, additional needs or one-time needs may be claimed. Eligible are all employable persons between 15 years and the legally defined retirement age between 65 and 67 years. The standard benefit covers the costs for food, clothing, household energy (excluding heating and hot water production), personal care, household items, daily needs, and to a reasonable extent, social participation and cultural activities.
Important note
Please submit only copies of your documents from now on, no originals!
Jobcenter Lippe will introduce the digital file (E-file) starting October 1, 2021. Submitted documents will be scanned for further processing and then destroyed! Therefore, please always submit only copies of your documents or send us your self-scanned documents by email - preferably in PDF format. To facilitate the process, it is helpful if you submit only unstapled documents. If you must present original documents, please contact your advisor or the staff at the central reception desk directly.
Please note that destroyed originals cannot be reacquired by Jobcenter Lippe.
YouTube Videos on Citizens' Allowance
Our benefits
Increased energy costs
Heating costs
Standard rate
The standard rate covers the costs for food, clothing, household energy (excluding heating and hot water), personal care, household items, and daily needs. Single individuals, single parents, and adults whose partner is a minor are entitled to the full standard rate. As of January 1, 2024, it is uniformly set nationwide at:
Young adults aged 25 and older must submit their own application for Bürgergeld, regardless of whether they live in their own apartment or with their parents. Individuals living in their own household form a separate needs community (BG) if they are at least 15 years old.
Housing and heating
The costs for housing and heating are covered up to the actual expenses, provided they are reasonable. Important: For a planned move, approval for the new accommodation must be obtained from Jobcenter Lippe before signing a rental agreement.
Social insurance
Recipients of citizen's income are included in the mandatory insurance obligations for health, nursing care, and pension insurance. The contributions are generally paid directly by Jobcenter Lippe to the social insurance.
One-time benefits
In addition to the standard benefits, you can receive one-time benefits as loans or grants for
Additional needs
Additional needs increase the standard benefit to cover special additional costs in individual cases. These include, for example, costs for special diets, pregnancy from the 13th week onwards, or additional expenses for single-parenting one or more children.
Supplementary loans for unavoidable needs
In unavoidable individual cases, loans can be granted. Repayment in these cases is made by offsetting future benefits in the following months.
Education and Participation Package
In 2011, the regulations for the so-called Education and Participation Package came into effect. It improves educational opportunities for children and adolescents from low-income families. Additionally, it ensures that these children can participate in activities at schools and clubs. The Jobcenter Lippe processes applications for benefits from the Education and Participation Package for citizens' allowance recipients. All other eligible individuals (e.g., recipients of housing allowance or child supplement) should contact the district of Lippe or the local municipal administration. Before registering your child for tutoring services or clubs, please clarify with your contact person at the Jobcenter Lippe whether benefits can be covered. Unfortunately, contributions and fees already paid by you cannot be reimbursed by the Jobcenter afterward. You can submit applications for benefits under the Education and Participation Package at the Jobcenter Lippe, your local town hall, or any authority in the district of Lippe.