SGB

SGB is an acronym with multiple meanings, but it is most commonly associated with Germany’s Sozialgesetzbuch, or Social Code. The Sozialgesetzbuch is the umbrella term for the country’s social security law, governing statutory insurance systems and welfare programs in areas such as health care, pensions, unemployment, long-term care, disability, and child and youth welfare. The code is organized into a series of books, traditionally numbered SGB I through SGB XII, each covering different policy areas.

Among the principal parts are SGB I General Provisions; SGB II Basic Security for Job Seekers; SGB III Employment Promotion; SGB IV Common Provisions; SGB V Statutory Health Insurance; SGB VI Pension Insurance; SGB VII Statutory Accident Insurance; SGB VIII Child and Youth Welfare; SGB IX Rehabilitation and Participation of Disabled Persons; SGB X Administrative Procedure; SGB XI Long-Term Care Insurance; and SGB XII Social Assistance. Together, they regulate entitlement, funding, and administration, and they shape the rights and duties of individuals, employers, insurers, and public authorities. Implementation involves federal and state agencies, the social insurance funds, and the courts, notably the Social Courts.

History and impact: The SGB framework was developed in the postwar era and has undergone multiple reforms; notable changes occurred during the 2000s, including reforms in 2005 that restructured unemployment benefits under SGB II and expanded active labor market policies.

Other uses: Outside Germany, SGB can refer to other entities or organizations, such as corporate or historical names, for example the Société Générale de Belgique. This article focuses on the German Social Code sense of the acronym.