Bundesagentur für Arbeit has published new professional guidelines (Fachliche Weisungen) to §6 SGB X regarding Außendienst — on-site inspections of Bürgergeld recipients. Jobcenter can indeed come to your home, but only in exceptional, well-justified cases, not as part of routine checks. You have the right to refuse entry to inspectors, but such refusal may have consequences for your benefits.
What does Außendienst inspect and when is a visit possible
The professional guidelines were published on 1 July 2026 as a commentary to §6 SGB X regarding inspections of Bürgergeld recipients. Among the tasks that Bundesagentur für Arbeit lists as grounds for a home visit:
- establishing a person’s actual place of residence;
- checking housing conditions;
- verifying the necessity and scope of assistance for initial housing setup;
- checking the ability to use property;
- distinguishing between Bedarfsgemeinschaft and Haushaltsgemeinschaft;
- establishing signs of a partnership community with mutual responsibility;
- identifying possible undeclared income;
- verifying whether stated employment or self-employment is genuine.
Such visits have been recorded before — often before holidays, when authorities checked whether an additional person was living in the recipient’s flat without officially registering.
Routine inspections are not permitted
Bundesagentur states directly: routine home inspections to detect abuse without prior indicators are not permitted. A home visit (Hausbesuch) is only possible in particularly justified cases when necessary circumstances cannot be established in any other way. In other words, a Jobcenter visit to your home is an exception, not standard practice.
Are you obliged to let inspectors in
The professional guidelines explicitly state: das Betreten ist ein Tolerieren — entry into the flat is only possible with the consent of the person concerned. You have the right to refuse Außendienst workers access to your flat, and Jobcenter must inform you of this right and the possible consequences of refusal. It is also established that you cannot be coerced or pressured — you make the decision about allowing access.
As a general rule, Hausbesuch must be announced in advance. An exception is only possible if advance notice would defeat the purpose of the inspection — for example, if there are grounds to believe that the person would have time to conceal facts.
For evidentiary purposes, Bundesagentur recommends that Hausbesuch be conducted by two authorized employees who should be able to confirm their authority from the government agency. The reason for the inspection should be explained to you at the start or before the visit.
Wardrobe inspection, consent and inspection record
Routine inspection of wardrobes is not permitted — only in exceptional circumstances if facts cannot be established any other way. If workers have already been let in and you then change your mind, consent for Hausbesuch can be withdrawn at any time without giving reasons. During the inspection, you have the right to view the inspection record.
Consequences of refusing to let inspectors in
Bundesagentur states: mere refusal to let workers into the flat cannot be grounds for denying benefits under §66 SGB I, as there is no corresponding obligation to cooperate with Hausbesuch inspection under this paragraph.
However, there is a caveat: if after refusal, essential facts necessary to establish entitlement to benefits cannot be determined in any other way, Jobcenter may, under the conditions specified in the professional guidelines, reject an application due to failure to prove the necessary prerequisites for receiving benefits. In other words, refusing to let inspectors in is your right as a benefit recipient, but it does not rule out possible denial of continued or new benefit payments if it becomes impossible to verify circumstances by other means.
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