In December 2016, roughly 1,026,000 people aged 18 or over in Germany received basic security benefits in old age and in cases of reduced earning capacity in accordance with the German Social Code, Book XII (SGB XII), Chapter 4. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) also reports that the number of people entitled to such benefits was down 1.2% on December 2015. At that time, approximately 1,038,000 people received basic security benefits in accordance with SGB XII.

In 2016, net expenditure on public assistance benefits according to the Social Code, Book XII (SGB XII on public assistance) amounted to 29.0 billion euros in Germany.

In 2015, roughly 883,000 people in Germany received integration assistance for disabled people in accordance with the German Social Code, Book XII, Chapter 6 (SGB XII). The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) also reports that the number of recipients rose by 2.7% compared with 2014.

In 2016, net expenditure on public assistance benefits according to the Social Code, Book XII (SGB XII on public assistance) amounted to 29.0 billion euros in Germany.