Social expenditure on aid programs witnessed a substantial 14.8% rise in the year 2024, encompassing elevated expenses across all advantages covered by SGB XII social assistance benefits.
In 2024, Germany witnessed a notable increase in its integration assistance budget, with a 12.9% rise recorded under the Ninth Book of the Social Code (SGB IX). The total net expenditure on integration assistance services reached an impressive 28.7 billion euros, according to data from Destatis [1][3].
This expansion in spending reflects broader trends in social spending growth within Germany in 2024, with significant increases also observed in areas like social help (SGB XII) and elder care [1][3]. The rise in expenditures can be attributed to factors such as inflation, demographic changes, and policy adjustments affecting support payments.
The majority of the integration assistance expenditure, 56.5%, continues to be focused on basic security in old age and in cases of reduced earning capacity. However, the remaining 43.5% of the budget, amounting to 1.6 billion euros for living expenses, 1.9 billion euros for health, overcoming special social difficulties, and other life situations, and the net total of 28.7 billion euros for integration assistance services, experienced a considerable increase compared to the previous year [2].
It is important to note that the Care Strengthening Act (BTHG) was responsible for the transfer of integration assistance services to SGB IX in January 2020. Since then, these services have been recorded separately from other social aid categories [4].
While the specific breakdown of spending on different types of integration assistance services in 2024 is not provided, it is clear that the budget for these services has grown considerably, indicating a growing financial commitment to disability-related support services in Germany [1][3].
References:
[1] Destatis (August 18, 2025). Social Expenditure in Germany in 2024. Retrieved from https://www.destatis.de/EN/ContentServer/DE/Content/StandardArtikel/2025/07/21_Expenditure_2024_en.html
[2] Destatis (August 18, 2025). Expenditure for Social Assistance under SGB XII in Germany in 2024. Retrieved from https://www.destatis.de/EN/ContentServer/DE/Content/StandardArtikel/2025/07/21_SGB_XII_expenditure_2024_en.html
[3] Destatis (August 18, 2025). Expenditure for Integration Assistance under SGB IX in Germany in 2024. Retrieved from https://www.destatis.de/EN/ContentServer/DE/Content/StandardArtikel/2025/07/21_SGB_IX_expenditure_2024_en.html
[4] Destatis (August 18, 2025). Integration Assistance Services under SGB IX in Germany. Retrieved from https://www.destatis.de/EN/ContentServer/DE/Content/StandardArtikel/2025/07/21_Integration_Assistance_Services_SGB_IX_en.html
The substantial appreciation in the integration assistance budget indicates a shift in Germany's financial priorities towards social services, encompassing areas like business and finance, as demonstrated by the rise in expenditures for integration assistance services, health, living expenses, and overcoming special social difficulties. Consequently, this commitment to disability-related support services suggests a growing investment in Germany's overall business environment and societal well-being.
