Supporting demanding policies more? Evaluations of Citizen’s Benefit Elements by Jobcentre Employees

Abstract

"While public debate about the Bürgergeld has been controversial since its introduction, the perspective of Jobcenter employees has so far been neglected – even though, as “street-level bureaucrats”, they play a central role in implementing the reform. Against this backdrop, the article draws on a nationwide standardized online survey among job center employees to examine how the individual elements of the Bürgergeld are evaluated, how these assessments have changed compared to the previous year, and which individual and organizational characteristics correlate with these evaluations. The findings reveal that a weakening of demanding elements is viewed with skepticism – be it with respect to the general evaluation both in general and over time. This especially applies to benefits caseworkers and operational staff. At the same time, the approval and intensive use of provisional payment suspensions point to practices through which bureaucratically burdensome benefit reductions can be circumvented. In light of this, the article discusses the tensions between political steering and administrative practices in the SGB II." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Duncker & Humblot) ((en))

Cite article

Bernhard, S., Beckmann, F., Osiander, C., Ramos Lobato, P. & Schupp, J. (2026): Mehr Fordern fördern? Einschätzungen von Jobcenter-Beschäftigten zu Kernelementen des Bürgergeldes. In: Sozialer Fortschritt, Vol. 75, No. 4, p. 581-603. DOI:10.3790/sfo.2026.1485001