Got a Grundsicherung notice from the Sozialamt — what to do? Deadlines and objection

Grundsicherung (basic income support, for old age or reduced earning capacity) runs through the Sozialamt, not the Jobcenter — many people mix this up. Here's a calm overview of what a notice from the Sozialamt means and how to respond.

What is the Sozialamt responsible for?

Unlike the Jobcenter (responsible for Bürgergeld (officially renamed to Grundsicherungsgeld on 1 July 2026), i.e. people able to work), the Sozialamt is responsible for people who can't work, or only to a limited extent, due to health reasons or age, as well as help with living costs in certain special cases.

The most common types of notices

Bewilligungsbescheid – benefits approved in a stated amount.
Ablehnungsbescheid – the application was rejected, fully or partly, often due to counted income or assets.
Änderungsbescheid – your ongoing benefit is adjusted.
Aufhebungs- und Erstattungsbescheid – the office thinks it overpaid and wants the money back.

What to check first

Is the counted income and assets correct?
Were allowances applied correctly?
Was your housing situation (rent, utilities) correctly accounted for?
If rejected due to work capacity: was there a medical assessment, or was it just assumed?

The deadline that matters: the objection

You can object to a notice within one month of delivery. This is stated in the appeal instructions at the end of the notice. A short sentence is enough at first — reasoning can follow later.

How should you respond?

1. The notice is correct – nothing more to do.

2. You disagree – file an objection on time, even without a detailed reasoning at first.

3. It's about a repayment demand – ask specifically how the amount was calculated.

4. You think your work capacity was assessed incorrectly – point to medical evidence and possibly ask for a new assessment.

Quick example of how an objection can be structured

reference to the notice (date, case number)
a clear sentence: "I hereby object to the notice dated ..."
a short reasoning, if you already have one
a request for written confirmation of receipt

This is exactly where BriefMagic helps: describe your situation in your own language – it turns into a clearly structured letter in German, with the right tone for the Sozialamt. You don't need to know the exact rules or hunt for the right phrasing yourself. There's a translation back into your language too, and the letter stays saved in case a reply comes.

Quick summary

The Sozialamt handles Grundsicherung, not Bürgergeld.
One month to object, from delivery.
File the objection first, reasoning can follow.
For repayment demands: check the calculation carefully.

This article doesn't replace legal advice. For complicated cases, a social counseling service or a lawyer specializing in social law can help.