Activation measures for basic income support recipients

8 Activation measures for basic income support recipients 

Provision of services is based on individual need for assistance. UB II recipients are no longer excluded from most of the instruments of active labour market policies provided by SGB III. The implementing institutions (Arbeitsgemeinschaften, ARGEs, or Optionskommunen, municipalities) are in principle entitled, as set forth in 16(1) 

4 Despite the meanwhile mitigated version of the sanction regulation, court rulings remain relevant BSG (Federal Social Court), ruling of 25 May 2005, SGb 2006,49 ft. BSG, ruling of 18 August 2005. 

In a recent amendment of 20 July 2006, 15a SGB II now provides that persons capable of working who within the past 2 years have not received cash benefits under either SGB II or SGB III are immediately to be offered benefits for integration into work upon applying for benefits pursuant to SGB II. This immediate offer is part of a work first strategy to prevent the need of assistance and to test the applicant s readiness to accept employment. It is particularly targeted at young people. 

If needy persons capable of working find no job, public employment opportunities are to be created on their behalf ( 16(3) SGB II). Prerequisites governing the admissibility of job opportunities will not be discussed further here. Important is much rather how the legislator s conceptions are put into practice. 

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