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Social Code
Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB)

The Social Code (SGB) is the formal codification of social legislation. It contains provisions on the major areas which are currently defined as pertaining to social legislation; not included in the Social Code (SGB) are especially those legal matters which fall in the realm of social legislation whose scope is limited in terms of temporal or personal application.

The legislation contained in the Social Code is intended to shape social security benefits, including social and educational assistance for the realisation of social justice and social security. It is to contribute to
  • ensuring a dignified human existence,
  • creating equal preconditions for the free development of an individual’s personality, and especially the personality of young people,
  • protecting and promoting the family,
  • enabling an individual to earn a living through a freely chosen occupation/activity,
  • preventing or compensating for special hardships in life, also by providing help for self-help.
The legislation contained in the Social Code is also intended as a contribution so that the social services and facilities which are required to fulfil the duties contained in the Social Code are made available in a timely and sufficient manner.
In 1969, the legislature started with the concept of consolidating numerous individual acts into a consistent body of legislation, and this consolidation has advanced considerably in the meantime. At present, the Social Code (SGB) is divided into 12 Books, with each Book being separately numbered with consecutive paragraphs so that – in terms of legal technique – each of them is considered as an independent Act of Parliament.