A number of things will change in the New Year. For example, the minimum wage and child benefit will be increased as of January 1, 2026. Passengers will have to pay more for the Germany Ticket. tuenews INTERNATIONAL provides an overview:
Germany Ticket
As of January 1, 2026, the Germany Ticket will become more expensive once again: nationwide, the price will rise from 58 to 63 euros per month. In the city of Tübingen, it will then cost 54 euros, because there is a subsidy.
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Child benefit
Child benefit will increase uniformly by four euros per child to 259 euros per month. According to the Federal Employment Agency, the Family Benefits Office will automatically adjust the amounts and pay them at the new level from January onward.
www.arbeitsagentur.de/presse/2025-53-kindergeld-steigt-ab-januar-2026
Health insurance contribution
Several health insurance funds have announced that the additional contribution for insured persons will increase in 2026. For example, AOK Baden-Württemberg is raising the rate from 2.6 to 2.99 percent. This is justified by rising costs and missing compensation payments from the federal government.
www.zdfheute.de/politik/deutschland/krankenkassen-dak-tk-beitraege-steigen-100.html
Minimum wage
The minimum wage will increase from 12.82 euros to 13.90 euros gross per hour as of January 2026, and to 14.60 euros as of January 1, 2027. This was bindingly decided by the Minimum Wage Commission.
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Mini-job
From next year on, mini-job workers will be allowed to earn more money without having to pay taxes and most social security contributions. The earnings limit will increase from 556 euros to 603 euros as of January 1, and to 633 euros as of January 1, 2027.
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Active pension
From 2026, pensioners will be able to earn up to 2,000 euros per month in additional income without paying taxes. This was decided by the Bundestag and Bundesrat.
www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/gesetzentwurf-aktivrente-2389334
Taxes and contributions
The basic tax-free allowance for wage and income tax will increase to 12,348 euros. Anyone who earns this amount per year as an unmarried person without children will not pay income tax. The child tax allowance will rise to 9,756 euros per child.
The commuter allowance will be credited from the very first kilometer at a rate of 38 cents per kilometer.
The volunteer allowance will increase from 840 to 960 euros, and the trainer allowance from 3,000 to 3,300 euros per year. Associations will therefore be able to pay more without recipients having to pay taxes.
Trade union members will in future be able to deduct their membership fees from their taxable income in addition to work-related expenses.
The Bundestag and Bundesrat have approved the corresponding draft laws of the federal government.
www.tagesschau.de/inland/innenpolitik/bundesrat-beschluesse-rentenpaket-100.html
Military service
The Military Service Act provides for compulsory medical examinations for young men and the reintroduction of military registration. All young men and women born in 2008 or later will receive a personal questionnaire that also asks about motivation for military service. For men, the medical examination will once again be compulsory. Military service itself remains voluntary.
tun25120205 Further information at:
www.br.de/radio/bayern1/was-aendert-sich-2026
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