Federal Ministers Bärbel Bas (SPD), Minister of Labor, and Karsten Wildberger (CDU), Minister of Digital Affairs, have announced the establishment of a “digital social portal”. In a joint op-ed, they detailed that the goal is to create a unified access point for social administration services for all citizens, regardless of which specific government authority is responsible for the service.
According to the ministers, the system will allow citizens to apply for benefits easily from home. The process will feature real-time tracking, giving applicants visibility into their file status at all times. Their vision eliminates the need for paper forms, physical post, and unnecessary in-person appointments, ensuring that complex, multi-step administrative processes for citizens are streamlined into a swift, user-friendly digital workflow.
Implementing this requires significant modernization and interconnection of existing administrative systems. Key technical elements include connecting these systems to the nationwide data exchange network, NOOTS, and leveraging the EUDI Wallet-the “digital wallet on the smartphone”-to facilitate access. Furthermore, artificial intelligence is planned to help reduce the burden on administrative staff.
Despite the digital improvements, the ministers firmly stated that technology will not replace personal advice, confirming that all decisions regarding benefits will remain in human hands. They stressed that the implementation has begun immediately, with an expert committee co-chaired by both ministries starting its work this week. While acknowledging that they are not building the entire social safety net overnight, Bas and Wildberger concluded that they can make the system step by step simpler, faster, and more efficient.
