The rule: you must support yourself
§10 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 StAG requires naturalisation applicants to be able to cover their living costs without claiming benefits under SGB II (Bürgergeld, the citizen's benefit) or SGB XII (social assistance / basic income support). If you currently receive Bürgergeld, social assistance or similar benefits, you generally do not meet this requirement.
When does the exception apply?
Since 30 October 2025, there is only a narrowly defined list of exceptions. The requirement to support yourself is waived if (1) you came to Germany as a member of the guest-worker generation by 30.06.1974 (recruitment agreements) or as a contract worker of the former GDR by 13.06.1990 (or as a spouse who joined them later) and you are not responsible for needing benefits, OR (2) you were employed full-time for at least 20 months within the last 24 months, OR (3) you live in a family unit with a person who is employed and with a minor child. The earlier general exception for hardship through no fault of your own (childcare, caring for relatives, illness, temporary unemployment) has been abolished.
Strategy: time your application
If you know you will soon start working again, it can make sense to submit your application only once you are employed again. A current payslip at the time you apply is decisive — not your past alone.
Frequently asked questions
I only received Bürgergeld for a short time — does that hurt my application?
Having received Bürgergeld briefly in the past is less of a problem than receiving it currently. What matters is the point in time when you submit your application. Getting a lawyer's assessment is worthwhile.
Does unemployment benefit 1 stand in the way of my naturalisation?
Receiving unemployment benefit 1 (Arbeitslosengeld 1, ALG 1) does not, as a rule, prevent naturalisation. § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 StAG only requires that you can cover your living costs without claiming benefits under the Second Book of the Social Code (Bürgergeld) or the Twelfth Book of the Social Code (social assistance). ALG 1, by contrast, is a contribution-funded unemployment-insurance benefit under the Third Book of the Social Code (SGB III) and is not mentioned in the wording of the law. What remains decisive is that your overall living costs are covered without Bürgergeld or social assistance; receiving Bürgergeld as a 'top-up' alongside ALG 1 would again be harmful. In case of doubt, the naturalisation authority decides based on the overall situation of your household.
My partner works — does that count?
The law provides an exception if you live in a family unit with a person who is employed and with a minor child (§ 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 StAG). Whether a jointly secured household without a minor child is sufficient in an individual case is decided by the authority — when in doubt, clarify this with the competent naturalisation authority or with a lawyer.
My partner works full-time and I look after our child at home — can I be naturalised?
Yes, that can be possible even if you have no income of your own. Since the reformed law, § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 StAG explicitly names an exception for parents: if you live, as a spouse or registered partner, in a family unit with a person who works full-time and with a minor child, you do not have to secure your living costs yourself (§ 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 Buchst. c StAG). The condition is that the working person meets the full-time requirement — namely, that they were employed full-time for at least 20 months within the last 24 months. The other naturalisation requirements (lawful residence, B1 German language skills, the naturalisation test (Einbürgerungstest), no criminal record) continue to apply unchanged. Whether the conditions are met in your individual case is examined by the naturalisation authority.
Can housing benefit also be harmful?
Under the current legal situation, housing benefit (Wohngeld) is less clear-cut than Bürgergeld — it depends on the individual case. When in doubt, have it checked by a lawyer.
Naturalisation despite a subsidy under § 26 SGB II — is that possible?
A subsidy under § 26 SGB II is accessory to receiving Bürgergeld and is therefore a benefit under the Second Book of the Social Code — and such benefits are, as a rule, harmful to naturalisation as of right under § 10 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 StAG. § 26 SGB II governs subsidies towards health and long-term care insurance contributions for people receiving Bürgergeld; so if you receive such a subsidy, you are receiving Bürgergeld. For number 3, the law now provides only a few narrowly defined exceptions (for example for certain people with long-term employment or for the recruited guest-worker / GDR contract-worker generation), but no longer a general hardship clause. Whether one of these exceptions applies is examined by the naturalisation authority; for an individual assessment, a lawyer is the right person to ask.