Hamburg on October 12th: Referendum on an unconditional basic income!

Hamburg on October 12th: Referendum on an unconditional basic income!

On October 12, 2025, Hamburg will vote on an exciting model experiment for an unconditional basic income. The decision could have far-reaching consequences for the city and beyond. Loud Focus At least 262,609 citizens must vote “yes” to launch the experiment.

The plan is for 2,000 randomly selected Hamburg residents to receive a basic monthly income over a period of three years. This varies depending on individual income, with the minimum amount being 1,346 euros per month. In addition, this amount is adjusted annually to the inflation rate and also includes the costs of health and nursing care insurance. The initiative estimates the total cost of the project at around 50 million euros.

The motivation and experience

A practical example is provided by Ferdinand Hölzl, a 28-year-old from Hamburg who already receives 1,000 euros per month as part of a raffle run by the “My Basic Income” association. He reports a feeling of security, especially in the challenging transition phase after his studies. The campaign for the referendum also requires considerable passion and commitment. Loud hamburg-testet-grundkommen.de Additional financial resources are necessary to further advance the experiment. The initiative is already accepting individual and recurring donations.

The financing is based on the successful model of the “My Basic Income” association, which supported another group of 122 adults from Germany with 1,200 euros per month between June 2021 and May 2024. This money came from donations and the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) provided scientific support for the experiment. The results showed that the payments increased life satisfaction and reduced stress without causing the majority of participants to leave employment according to gegen_hartz.de.

What happens if you agree?

The upcoming vote has the potential to reignite a debate about the conditions of the social security system not only in Hamburg but throughout the country. A positive outcome could draw attention to the issue of basic income and provide more data to support future decisions. However, it is also questioned how a nationwide basic income could be integrated and financed.

A further look at the history so far shows that an earlier attempt for a Hamburg model in 2023 failed before the Hamburg Constitutional Court. With the upcoming referendum, advocates are now once again hoping for a positive change in this important social discussion. Voters will therefore decide not only about their own future well-being, but also about a possible path to a new social reality.

So stay tuned when the vote comes on October 12th – it could be the start of an exciting development!