In 2022, 403,856 appeals and 50,893 complaints were filed in the area of Basic Income (Jobcenters). That means 9,733 fewer appeals and/or 10,489 fewer complaints than in 2021.

In particular, there was a fall in the number of appeals against general needs/additional needs as well as cancellation and refunding. There was also a fall in the number of appeals against income/assets, but this was somewhat lesser than the previous year. With the onset of the pandemic, the legislator simplified access to Basic Income. For example, assets are no longer verified if they are not significant. The actual costs of accommodation are also recognised, even if they are higher than the respective municipal guideline values. The simplifications expired at the end of 2022.

The number of appeals against sanctions remains low and was similar to the level recorded in 2020 once again. While approximately 39,900 appeals against sanctions were filed before the coronavirus pandemic in 2019, the total number fell to approximately 8,100 last year. The Jobcenters were required to issue fewer sanctions, however.

Low rates of appeal and complaint in Jobcenters with the involvement of the Federal Employment Agency (BA)

The rates of appeal and complaint can only be determined for the 301 joint institutions – i.e. the Jobcenters for which the BA and the municipal district are jointly responsible. In 2022, these Jobcenters issued 23.4 million benefit decisions, against which 347,500 appeals and 41,100 complaints were filed. In 2021, the appeal rate fell from 1.6 percent to 1.5 percent, while the complaint rate fell from 0.3 to 0.2 points. The rate is an approximate value, as several appeals can be filed against the same decision.

Resolved appeals and complaints

Last year, the Jobcenters issued decisions on 397,300 appeals. Almost two thirds of the resolved appeals were rejected or withdrawn by customers. In 133,400 appeals the decision was changed, most frequently because necessary documents which had not been provided before were subsequently submitted (58,700). The incorrect application of the legislation was found to have occurred in 40,700 appeals.

66,600 complaints were decided in the courts. Of these, approximately 65 percent were dismissed or withdrawn by the claimant and approximately 35 percent resulted in a new decision.

Notes for editors

• Jobcenters can be operated in two different formats. At 301 Jobcenters, known as “joint institutions”, the BA and the respective municipal district work together and operate the Jobcenter jointly. The legislator has also allowed approximately 100 municipal districts to operate the Jobcenters independently (known as “Jobcenters under municipal responsibility”). The BA has no involvement in these Jobcenters.
• The figures published in this press release are published for both types of institution, as the Jobcenters which are run by the municipalities also provide the BA with data concerning appeals and complaints according to defined criteria. The only exception is the paragraph on the rates of appeal and complaint: the BA is only aware of the number of benefit decisions which have been issued by the joint institutions. For this reason, the calculated rates only take account of the appeals and complaints which have been received by the Jobcenters which are operated jointly.
• Statistical information on Appeals and complaints in the internet.