As of: April 8, 2024, 7:37 a.m
By: Christoph Gschoßmann
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He gets money from the state, but it's not enough for him. The unemployed Pierre from Kerpen therefore steals what he wants.
Kerpen - Since there was citizen's money, those in need have received more money from the state. An example from broadcaster RTL 2 shows that the old Hartz 4 rates were clearly not enough for some. Pierre from Kerpen in North Rhine-Westphalia had to stay afloat with 420 euros Hartz IV. Today he would probably get 563 euros. But would that be enough for him? At the time the RTL-2 poverty report “Poor Germany – work or struggle” was filmed, Hartz IV was still in place. Now the case was broadcast on television after the introduction of citizens' money.
Hartz IV recipient became a drug dealer at the age of 18 - a rate of 420 euros was not enough for the family man
Pierre from the RTL 2 documentary couldn't make ends meet with the Hartz IV rate. At the age of 18, the now 35-year-old man said he became a drug dealer. Since then, his life has taken one bad turn after another.
The unemployed Pierre steals what he cannot afford with his 420 euros per month in Hartz 4 benefits. (Symbolic image) © pond5/IMAGO
Pierre had been unemployed for ten years and lived on 420 euros from Hartz IV. In the episode, filmed before the introduction of citizens' money, the father of a ten-year-old daughter calculates that he needs 600 euros for cigarettes and marijuana alone. Even with “Hartz und cordial” star Sandra “all the money is gone”. So for Pierre, the citizen's benefit rate probably wouldn't be enough either.
The differences between Hartz IV and citizen's money
But how big is the difference between Hartz IV and citizen's money? The standard rate for a single person is currently 114 euros higher per month. The job center also covers certain costs such as rent and heating costs without a maximum limit, at least in the first year.
Hartz IV: Until December 31, 2022 |
Citizens' money: Since January 1, 2023 |
|
Sentence for single person |
449 euros |
563 euros |
Assumption of costs |
Rent, heating costs with a maximum limit |
No cap in the first year |
Sentence development |
Inflation rate of the previous year |
Upcoming inflation rate |
protective assets |
10,050 euros |
15,000 euros (in the first reference year 40,000) |
The rates for citizens' benefit are also based on the expected inflation in the next year, which gives the recipients more money than under the previous regulation, in which the rates were based on the inflation rates of the previous year. The protected assets above which you do not receive any benefits have also increased.
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Unemployed Pierre tells RTL 2: “I have one foot in prison again”
In any case, the Hartz IV rate was too low for Pierre. “The money is usually gone after two days,” he said. He borrows money from parents or friends, but even that isn't enough. That's why he doesn't know how to help himself other than to steal what he needs and wants. He speaks of goods worth 3,000 to 4,000 euros per month. Only a few weeks ago he was released from prison, where he had already been several times.
And possibly not for the last time: “I have one foot in prison again,” he says. He had started three training courses in the meantime, but stopped all of them. The beneficiary's apartment can only be described as a hovel. It was not without pride that he presented some of the things he stole in the documentary.
Despite many years of unemployment: Pierre from Kerpen calls himself “overqualified”
Pierre is dissatisfied with not having enough money: “Sometimes I want to eat a delicious steak and I just don’t have the money. Or I want to drink a bottle of Coke and not Freeway Coke, but something good. Why should you forego all this shit just because you are a Hartz 4 recipient?” is his question.
But despite being unemployed for many years, Pierre describes himself as “overqualified” in the documentary. He has many talents, but he still doesn't want to go to work; instead, he prefers to be “his own boss”. He continued: “Why should I stand there for 1000 euros? I'd rather not go to work and when I get up in the morning, I go for a walk in the forest and do whatever I feel like doing." "Hartz und cordial" star Jean recently revealed his earnings including citizen's allowance. In fact, he thinks what he earns per month is too much.
(cgsc)