BAföG allowances determine how much of your own income and assets remains without being offset against support. The draft of the 30th amendment to the BAföG provides for raising these allowances every year in future. This guide explains what is planned from 2028, which amounts apply today and where questions remain open.
Short answer: The draft of the 30th amendment to the BAföG provides for raising the allowances every year from the 2028/2029 winter semester. The draft (printed matter 21/8405) names a rate of 1.5 percent per year. The draft has not been adopted, and the Bundesrat considers the adjustment insufficient. Today, the income allowance is 389 euros per month, as of 2026. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points
- The draft provides for an annual increase in the allowances from the 2028/2029 winter semester.
- The draft names a rate of 1.5 percent per year. The Bundestag notice itself gives no percentage.
- The draft is still in progress. The second and third readings are pending, and it has not yet been promulgated.
- Today the income allowance is 389 euros per month, after deduction of the flat-rate allowances, as bafög.de explains.
- Which euro amount applies from 2028 cannot reliably be derived from the percentage alone.
What the draft provides for the allowances
The draft of the 30th amendment to the BAföG (printed matter 21/8405) provides for raising the allowances every year in future. The Bundestag notice on the bill names the winter semester 2028/2029 as the first step. We take the rate of 1.5 percent per year from the text of the draft, as the Bundestag notice does not state it.
Whether the increase stays in the law depends on the further procedure. The Bundesrat considers the planned annual increase of the allowances insufficient to offset the cost increases caused by inflation. This is the position of the Bundesrat, not an adopted status.
Where does the legislative procedure stand?
The draft passes several stages before any adjustment applies. The table shows the steps documented by the available sources. A date should only count as completed where the source confirms it.
| Date | Step | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 12 August 2026 | Cabinet decision on the draft | Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (in German) |
| 7 October 2026 | Printed matter 21/8405 of the Bundestag | Bundestag, printed matter 21/8405 (in German) |
| 8 October 2026 | Bundestag notice on the bill (hib 800/2026) | Bundestag, hib (in German) |
| 15 October 2026 | First reading in the Bundestag (week 42) | Bundestag plenary records (in German) |
The second and third readings and the Bundesrat stage are still pending as of this guide. Only the promulgation in the Federal Law Gazette will show whether and in what form the adjustment applies.
Which allowances apply today?
The table shows the main allowances as they stand today. The income allowance applies after deducting the flat-rate work-related expenses of 1,230 euros per year and the social flat rate, as bafög.de explains.
| Allowance | Amount | Status and source |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly income allowance for trainees | 389 euros | From 1 January 2026, bafög.de |
| Asset allowance up to age 29 | 15,000 euros | Status 2026, bafög.de and DSW FAQ January 2026 |
| Asset allowance from age 30 | 45,000 euros | Status 2026, bafög.de and DSW FAQ January 2026 |
| Asset supplement per spouse or child | 2,300 euros | Status 2024, bafög.de |
A worked example with assumptions
Assumption: the income allowance of 389 euros rises by 1.5 percent in the first adjustment step. This gives an amount of around 395 euros per month. The example shows only the order of magnitude, because the final law sets the exact implementation, rounding and adjustment dates.
Assumption: the increase takes place two years in a row at 1.5 percent each time. The amount would then be around 401 euros per month. This is again a model calculation and not information about a fixed amount.
What this means for students and parents
For students who work alongside their studies, the income allowance is the most important lever. A higher allowance means that more earnings are possible without a reduction in support, provided the other rules apply. How the limits work today is explained in our guide on side jobs and BAföG.
The sources are less clear for parental income. Whether the parental allowance rises from 2028 is not confirmed. A reliable answer will only come from the promulgated text of the law.
What is still open?
- Whether the annual increase stays in the law as drafted, after the Bundesrat has criticised it.
- The exact rounding and the size of each adjustment step, which cannot be derived from the percentage alone.
- The transitional rule for ongoing approvals.
- Whether a comparable adjustment is planned for the parental allowance from 2028. The available sources contain no confirmed statement on this.
For planning, this means the figures for 2028 are not yet fixed. It makes sense to calculate with today’s amounts and to check the legislative status regularly.
According to the available sources, the asset allowances are not affected by the planned adjustment. The table above shows the asset allowance of 15,000 euros for trainees under 30 and 45,000 euros from age 30. How assets are actually counted also depends on the individual case, for example on allowances for spouses and children.
Frequently asked questions
When exactly do the allowances rise?
The draft provides for the first step from the 2028/2029 winter semester. The exact date and the size of the increase only become binding with the promulgated law. Until then, today’s amounts apply.
Does the adjustment already apply to ongoing support?
Whether and when ongoing approvals are adjusted is governed by the transitional provision in the law. Anyone who studies or receives support in 2028 should wait for the final text before adjusting their plans.
Where can I find the current amounts?
The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space publishes the amounts in force on bafög.de. According to the draft, the new amounts are to be published by 31 May before they apply.
What does annual adjustment mean in BAföG?
It means that the allowances rise automatically by a fixed percentage, without a new amendment to the law being needed each time. Whether this happens depends on the promulgated law.
What to do now
- Determine your current allowances from your latest notice before you plan any side jobs.
- Follow the progress of the legislative procedure in the Bundestag and the promulgation in the Federal Law Gazette.
- After promulgation, check the transitional rule before adjusting your plans for 2028.
- If in doubt, clarify the amounts with the responsible Office for Training Support.
Related guides
- BAföG Reform 2027: What Is Changing and When (in German)
- BAföG and assets: allowance 2026 and offsetting
- BAföG and side jobs: which earnings are permitted
- BAföG reform in the Bundestag: what is still open
- BAföG step plan until 2029: why the increase comes in stages
Sources: BAföG reform in the Bundestag, plenary text week 42/2026, status 2 November 2026 (in German); hib 800/2026, bill on the 30th amendment to the BAföG, 8 October 2026 (in German); Printed matter 21/8405, draft of the 30th amendment to the BAföG (in German); Allowances and support amounts, bafög.de, status 2026 (in German); BAföG FAQ, German Student Services Organisation, January 2026 (in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
