ErbenakteA co-heir receives citizen's income (Bürgergeld): what generally applies
Checked on 11.11.2026
Translated from German. Where anything differs, the German text counts: Deutsche Fassung
A brother lives on citizen's income (Bürgergeld) and perhaps lives in the house. He refuses a payout, worried about his benefits, or the others do not know what a sale would mean for him.
What generally applies
- Report it. Whoever receives Bürgergeld must tell the job centre that they have inherited (§ 60 SGB I). This applies even while the estate is not yet divided.
- Counting it. Whether and how an inheritance counts against Bürgergeld, as income or as assets, in which month and how much, depends on the timing of the death and on allowances. The job centre decides; a social counselling service or a social-law lawyer can check it.
- The other heirs. For them, a co-heir's Bürgergeld does not at first change their own rights: the estate belongs to everyone, and each heir can in principle demand the division.
What a payout, a sale or living in the house means for the person's benefits is a question of their individual case. This page does not assess it.
What helps
- Take the worry seriously. Whoever lives on benefits is often less afraid of the money than of what happens to the benefits afterwards.
- Suggest advice, do not demand it. An independent social counselling service, for example at a welfare association, is often free.
- Talk with the same figures. Value, costs and the options side by side, so everyone knows what they are discussing.