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Students in the lecture hall: More than a third was at risk of poverty in the past year (symbol image)
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Arno Burgi / picture alliance / dpa
The federal cabinet has initiated a one-off payment for students and technical students.
They should each receive 200 euros, as the Federal Ministry of Education announced on Friday.
The payment is part of the third relief package agreed by traffic lights at the beginning of September to cushion the sharp rise in energy prices.
All students and technical students who are enrolled at a university or in specialist training on December 1, 2022 can receive the money.
A domicile or "habitual abode" in Germany is required.
At technical schools, for example, educators, technicians or business economists are trained.
The Bundestag still has to approve the law.
According to the information, around 3.4 million students and technical students are eligible to apply.
However, it is still unclear when those affected can expect the money.
Most recently, January was discussed as a possible period when the amount could be paid out.
The ministry only named the beginning of the year as the date on Friday.
Accordingly, students and technical students should be able to apply for the money via a digital platform.
According to the ministry, this is still in progress.
Contrary to previous plans, the cabinet has not yet dealt with the planned price brakes for gas and electricity.
These legislative projects are to be passed shortly by circulation, i.e. without a joint meeting.
Stefan Grob, deputy general secretary of the Deutsches Studierendenwerk, criticized that it often takes far too long for the money to actually reach the students.
“The 200 euro aid announced at the beginning of September is not expected to be paid out until 2023.
But many students need the money now because of the skyrocketing prices,” says Grob.
In addition to the one-off payments, structural improvements in state student financing are necessary.
Grob, for example, called for "a plus in the flat-rate housing allowance" because in most university towns you can't afford a room in a shared flat with the current 360 euros.
Automatic inflation compensation is also necessary for BAföG.
It must be regularly adjusted to the development of prices and income.
students at risk of poverty
In view of the current burden, many students are suffering from lack of money.
The Federal Statistical Office announced on Wednesday that more than a third of students in Germany were at risk of poverty last year.
Students who live alone or in shared apartments are particularly at risk.
At 76.1 percent, a good three quarters of them were at risk of poverty.
At risk of poverty is anyone who has less than 60 percent of the median income of the total population - in 2021 this was 1251 euros a month in Germany.
Housing costs in particular drive up the cost of living for students.
Those who lived alone or in a shared apartment had to raise a good half of their disposable income last year.
fok/dpa/AFP