{"id":2261,"date":"2026-02-12T00:13:58","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T23:13:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sonnenberg-lawfirm.de\/naturalization-and-citizens-allowance-livelihood-rejected\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T00:18:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T23:18:18","slug":"naturalization-and-citizens-allowance-livelihood-rejected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonnenberg-lawfirm.de\/en\/naturalization-and-citizens-allowance-livelihood-rejected\/","title":{"rendered":"Naturalization and securing a livelihood; problem of social benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Today you will find out about the problem that people often argue about with the authorities during the naturalization<\/strong> process: securing a livelihood and receiving social benefits.<\/p>\n

Well, another common problem is the long duration of the procedure, but we’ll get to that in another video shortly. Keyword inactivity complaint<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

Back to the topic. What does naturalization actually mean?<\/strong> This means that the foreigner receives German citizenship upon application if various requirements are met.<\/p>\n

And what does securing a livelihood<\/strong> mean?<\/strong> In simple terms, it means that the foreigner is able to meet the costs of living for themselves and their family community.<\/p>\n

The legislator changed these requirements in June 2024 and – unsurprisingly – tightened them. This applies in particular to the receipt of social benefits, which<\/strong> can lead to the rejection of subsistence benefits<\/strong>. I will discuss both legal situations here, the old and the new. Because for applications submitted by August 23, 2023, you have the choice of whether you prefer to<\/strong> apply the old or the new legal situation<\/strong>. And there are still many of these old applications – keyword: duration of proceedings. So remember your right to choose if the authority does not apply the legal situation that is better for you. <\/p>\n

I will roughly outline here how exactly I calculate<\/strong> the cost of living in<\/strong> order to then come to the exclusion through social benefits.<\/p>\n

On the income side<\/strong>, for example, the following must be taken into account:<\/p>\n

Net salaries; frequent problem here: the employment relationship is still in the probationary period, or the end of the fixed term is approaching.
\nIncome from self-employment, renting, capital… Here we need tax assessments; savings? Not enough on their own, but the income from them; child benefit; declarations of commitment by other persons <\/p>\n

On the cost side<\/strong>, particular consideration must be given to
\nHousing costs; insurance; catering costs according to certain rates<\/p>\n

If the foreigner now receives social benefits in accordance with the Second or Twelfth Book of the German Social Code<\/strong>, this generally leads to a rejection of<\/strong> the livelihood guarantee and thus to a rejection of the naturalization application.
\nHowever, there are exceptions<\/strong> to this. And these have changed according to the old and new legal situation. <\/p>\n

According to the old legal situation, the receipt of benefits was not a problem if the foreigner DID NOT REPRESENT<\/strong> the receipt. I have to look back five years and explain that I did everything possible to avoid receiving benefits. A difficult and very strict test, but possible. <\/p>\n

According to the new legal situation, the receipt of social benefits is no longer excusable<\/strong>. This means that anyone who is completely unable to work due to disability, for example, cannot naturalize. Unjust? Yes. But more on that later. <\/p>\n

There are only specific statutory exceptions<\/strong> where the receipt of benefits is not harmful.
\nThe first exception relates to a less practically relevant group of contract workers who immigrated before 1990.
\nThe second, but important, exception applies to foreigners who
\nis in full-time employment and has been so for at least 20 months within the last 24 months<\/strong>,
\nor lives as a spouse or registered partner in a family relationship with such an employed person and a minor child.<\/p>\n

According to the new legal situation, this means that if you receive or have received benefits, this is irrelevant if you are employed full-time. This was not the case under the old legal situation and can be a great advantage. <\/p>\n

Therefore, please note: if you are still arguing with the authority under the old legal situation as to whether you are responsible for previous receipt of benefits, check whether this is now irrelevant in your case because you are still employed.
\nAnd vice versa: if the authority categorically rules out securing your livelihood due to receipt of benefits, check whether you submitted the application before the cut-off date, the old legal situation applies and you can still argue that the receipt of benefits was through no fault of your own.<\/p>\n

Speaking of applications, a little digression. Some authorities delay the application process because you have to wait a very long time for an appointment in order to even be allowed to submit an application.
\nThis is not necessary. You can simply submit the application in writing, by email, fax or post.<\/strong> And even your request for an appointment can be regarded as an application.
\nThe time of application can be important when it comes to the specified deadline. Or the deadline for an action for failure to act. <\/p>\n

So what do we do now with our case group, which apparently receives social benefits through no fault of their own and<\/strong> is therefore excluded from naturalization for life<\/strong>? the unemployable? The pensioners whose pension is not enough despite their employment history or raising children? The legislator has forgotten about them. <\/p>\n

There are two solutions. Either the law is unconstitutional. This is because the highest courts have ruled on other issues of impediments to naturalization through no fault of one’s own – in this case: unclear identity – that naturalization MUST be possible at some point if one has been in Germany for a very long time and cannot be held responsible for the impediments. <\/p>\n

Or, in order to avoid the threat of unconstitutionality, we could include this group of cases in naturalization on the basis of hardship, which is possible under Section 8 (2) of the Citizenship Act.<\/p>\n

At any rate, this is the path that many migration lawyers are taking. According to the motto: either a case of hardship, or your law is unlawful. That’s good. and do you notice anything? So we have reintroduced the obligation to represent through the back door after all.
\nHowever, this is not trickery on the part of the lawyers, but the result of poor legislative craftsmanship.<\/p>\n

Thank you for tuning in. Please note that despite great care, we cannot guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the information. This video is also not suitable as a substitute for individual advice.
\nIf you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. I would be pleased to welcome you here again soon, your lawyer Simon Sonnenberg<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Today you will find out about the problem that people often argue about with the authorities during the naturalization process: securing a livelihood and receiving social benefits. Well, another common problem is the long duration of the procedure, but we’ll get to that in another video shortly. Keyword inactivity complaint. Back to the topic. 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