Berlin Court Rules Job Centers Must Notify Citizens Allowance Applicants Directly

A 67-year-old woman from Berlin has been left in limbo for months, awaiting a decision on her social security extension. The Higher Social Security Court of Berlin-Brandenburg has ruled that the social security office's practice of merely forwarding decisions to the social court, without directly informing applicants, is legally ineffective.

The woman, like many others, has been caught in a bureaucratic maze. Social security offices, overwhelmed with applications and appeals, often fail to meet legally prescribed deadlines. Instead of communicating decisions directly to applicants, they send documents to the responsible social security court, considering their duty fulfilled. The Higher Social Security Court has clarified that this practice does not constitute valid notification, leaving applicants without their legal rights.

Social security, a crucial lifeline for those in financial distress, is increasingly becoming a source of disputes. In Berlin alone, 219,377 people were unemployed in July 2025, with many facing issues like delayed decisions and incorrect calculations. The court's ruling serves as a reminder that affected persons retain their right to legal protection only after receiving decisions in an orderly manner.

The Higher Social Security Court's ruling underscores the importance of proper notification in social security cases. Social security offices must ensure applicants receive decisions directly to uphold their legal rights. With unemployment rates in Berlin at 10.3 percent, timely and accurate processing of benefits is crucial for those in need.