Job Centre Payment Takeover – When?

Electricity costs and citizens’ money: basically included in the standard rate, also in 2026

The monthly electricity costs for the household (household electricity) are included in the standard rate of citizen’s benefit. This means: Citizen benefit recipients have to pay their electricity bill themselves from the monthly standard rate. For single people, for example, the standard rate for 2025/2026 is 563 euros, of which around 8-9% is earmarked for electricity (around 45-50 euros).

Household electricity costs include electricity for lighting, household appliances, cooking, television, etc.

The job center does NOT cover these costs separately – not even if there is an additional payment from the annual billing. Additional electricity payments must also be paid from the standard rate.

Exception: Then the job center pays the electricity costs

However, there are important exceptions in which the job center also covers electricity costs:

Heating with electricity

If the apartment is heated exclusively with electricity (e.g. night storage heater, electric heating, electrically operated underfloor heating), the electricity costs for heating are considered heating costs and not household electricity.

These heating electricity costs – like other heating costs – are covered by the job center if they are appropriate. What is considered appropriate depends on the size of the apartment and the local conditions and is examined on a case-by-case basis.

Important: The costs for household electricity (washing machine, refrigerator, etc.) are still not covered. A distinction must therefore be made between heating electricity and household electricity. If there are separate electricity meters, the billing is clear. If there is only one meter, the heating current share is estimated.

Hot water production with electricity

If the hot water in the apartment is generated electrically with a water heater or boiler, an additional requirement for hot water can be claimed. This additional demand is paid in addition to the standard rate to compensate for the higher electricity costs.

Danger!

Anyone who uses electricity for heating or hot water should definitely inform the job center and provide the relevant evidence in order to receive reimbursement of costs or additional requirements.

Electricity backpayment or electricity debt – what to do?

In principle, additional electricity payments from the annual bill must be borne by yourself. If the additional payment cannot be paid immediately, it is advisable to first agree on an installment payment with the electricity provider.

If there is a threat of a power cut or if there are electricity debts, you can apply for an interest-free loan from the job center to maintain the supply. The loan will later be deducted from the standard rate in small installments.

The job center usually does not take over electricity debts as a subsidy, but only as a loan and only to avoid a blockage.

Calculation of electricity credits – note!

If a citizen’s benefit recipient receives a refund (credit) from the electricity bill because he has used less, the job center is generally not allowed to count this credit as income if the electricity was paid entirely from the standard rate.

Only if an additional requirement for electricity (e.g. for hot water) has been granted can the credit be credited proportionately.

Table: When does the job center pay electricity costs for citizens’ benefit?

Conclusion: When the job center covers electricity costs

In 2025/2026, the job center will only cover electricity costs for citizens’ benefit in exceptional cases – namely when electricity is used for heating or hot water. Citizen benefit recipients have to pay for normal household electricity themselves. If you have payment problems, you can apply for a loan to prevent a power cut. The job center usually has to grant the loan.