Life situation and experiences of recipients of means-tested welfare benefits.

The aim of this project is to obtain evidence about the motivations and problems that prevent recipients of the German „Bürgergeld“ (means-tested basic income support for those able to work) from taking up employment. To this end, a representative survey of recipients and qualitative in-depth interviews will be conducted. The aim is to analyse which factors hinder job search and why benefit recipients sometimes do not accept placement offers. The study takes into account the fact that benefit recipients are affected by a variety of health, family or psychosocial problems that prevent them from taking up employment. At the same time, the extent to which behaviour conforms to the rules and the role played by benefit sanctions in this context is also investigated.