Social courts in Lower Saxony and Bremen ruled that university students are not entitled to Bürgergeld (citizen’s income), even if they do not attend lectures or temporarily suspend their studies.
The case involved a 37‑year‑old man from Münster who finished music studies in 2012, later attempted other subjects but struggled due to mental illness. Since 2018 he had received Bürgergeld, but after enrolling in mathematics at Osnabrück University, authorities demanded repayment of about €2400, arguing that enrollment excludes eligibility.
He claimed he never attended classes and was on medical leave, but the court emphasized the general rule: students eligible for BAföG support cannot receive Bürgergeld.
In this individual case, however, he was not required to repay the money, as there was no serious reporting violation and the authorities had not sufficiently explained the legal rules.
Sources – Agencies
