That will change for students in 2024

Minimum wage:

Good news for working students: the statutory minimum wage will increase to 12.41 euros gross per hour from January 2024. The minimum wage calculator from the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs makes it easy to find out how the statutory minimum wage will affect your income and the number of working hours.

Slight increase in the income threshold for mini-jobs:

As of October 2022, the mini-job limit was linked to the minimum wage. With the increase in the minimum wage, this limit will rise to €538. BAföG has a fixed allowance, which, together with other percentage flat rates in BAföG and the flat rate for income-related expenses resulting from other laws, was chosen so that the then limit of €520 was reached when the last BAföG amendment came into force. For students receiving BAföG, working hours are therefore reduced if they are based on the additional income limit set in BAföG.

Adjustment of the additional contribution to statutory health insurance:

For students who are no longer covered by family health insurance: the average supplementary contribution for statutory health insurance will increase by 0.1% to 1.7%. For students in the student health insurance scheme, the surcharge is part of the monthly contribution. Each health insurance company decides for itself whether and how much to increase the surcharge. This is only an average. Some insurance companies have higher surcharges and proportionally higher adjustments. If your health insurance company increases the surcharge, you have the right to change to another health insurance company until the end of the month in which the new surcharge applies. We recommend comparing the benefits and additional contributions.

Cheaper Deutschlandticket as part of the Semesterticket:

At the end of November 2023, the federal and state governments reached an agreement on the Deutschlandticket. From the summer semester, students will be able to use public transport throughout Germany for €29.40 a month (60% of the normal price of the Deutschlandticket). The student body must sign a contract with the local transport authority. The respective university must debit the modified semester fee for re-registration or enrolment for the summer semester 2024. This is very time-critical. It is therefore not yet clear how many universities will be able to offer the Deutschlandticket for the 2024 summer semester. The best way to find out is to contact the relevant university committees.

Higher standard rates for citizen's allowance (Bürgergeld)

Students are rarely eligible for citizen’s allowance, but they can receive child benefits. Also relevant if you interrupt your studies for more than three months due to illness or after graduation before starting work: benefits will be increased from January 2024.

For single adults, the rate will rise by 61 euros to 563 euros per month.

For children between the ages of 6 and 13, the rate will increase from €348 to €390, and from €318 to €357 for children up to the age of 6.

The citizen's allowance will replace the previous basic income support (Hartz IV) from January 2023. The Bundestag had decided to adjust the rates to inflation more quickly than before.

Taxes, maintenance and other changes:

IG Metall provides a good overview of other legal changes on its central homepage.