In December 2025, roughly 1.28 million people in Germany received basic security benefits for old age and disability under Book 12 of the Social Code (SGB XII). The Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) announced that this represents about 23,000 more, or 1.8 percent higher, than in December 2024. Eligibility for these benefits applies to adults who are permanently fully disabled or who have reached the statutory age limit and cannot secure their living expenses from their own income or assets.
For those born before 1947, the age limit for basic security is 65 years. Since 2012, the age limit has been increased stepwise to 67 years for people born in 1947 or later. In December 2025, the age limit stood at 66 years and two months.
About 764,000 people had reached or exceeded the age limit according to SGB XII in December 2025 and received old‑age basic security. From the end of 2024 to the end of 2025, this number rose by 3.4 percent, setting a new record high.
In contrast, the number of recipients of basic security for disability fell by 0.5 percent in December 2025 compared with the same month the previous year, dropping to around 520,000. This is the lowest level since December 2018. These individuals, aged 18 to just below the age limit, receive benefits due to a permanent full disability. Under this definition, they are unable to work for an indefinite period each day for at least three hours under usual general‑market conditions because of illness or disability. The all‑time peak for disability recipients was reached in March 2020, with 539,000 people.
The number of Ukrainian refugees eligible for basic security grew from about 99,000 in December 2024 to 109,000 in December 2025-a rise of 9.9 percent. This increase again played a significant role in the overall trend, though it was lower than in previous years (the last year-on‑year rise was +14.6 percent in December 2024 compared with December 2023). Since 1 June 2022, Ukrainian refugees have been entitled to benefits under SGB XII rather than the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (AsylbLG) under the usual conditions.
