"More and more desperate Munich residents": Worrying corona development - but a sad climax is likely to follow

The number of Hartz IV recipients in Munich has increased dramatically.

The reason is the corona virus.

The sad climax has not yet been reached, say experts.

• The corona virus brings huge losses to Munich *.

  The worst hits are those who have little anyway.

• The number of Hartz IV recipients is increasing rapidly.

  And it's going to get worse.

• Here you can find the Corona-News from Munich.

  We also offer you the current number of cases in Bavaria on a map.

Munich -

.

According to tz information, the number of Hartz IV recipients has increased dramatically this year.

It last rose to 54,595 (reporting month October) - an increase of 20.6 percent compared to February 2020. "We are assuming a corona effect," confirmed the spokesman for the Munich Job Center, Frank Donner, on Sunday at the request of our newspaper.

But this should not have reached the sad climax of the economic consequences of the corona.

Experts fear that the chain reaction of lost sales by companies and layoffs could have an even stronger impact in 2021.

In addition, there is concern about a further

.

“More and more desperate people from Munich are looking for advice in our offices,” reports VdK regional director Ulrike Mascher.

In a tz interview, she calls for a corona surcharge of 100 euros per month for all Hartz IV recipients.

Coronavirus Munich: Necessary purchases of masks and other aids not covered

Background: While the vernacular speaks of Hartz IV, the authorities refer to the social benefit as

II or basic security (see right).

It is essentially made up of two services: a standard rate of 432 euros per month for single persons and the assumption of costs for housing and heating.

In addition, other grants are sometimes paid.

In Munich, the city is voluntarily increasing the standard rate by 21 euros.

Nevertheless, many

do not have enough money back and forth.

Corona has increased their need, VdK boss Mascher sounds the alarm: "Many are burdened by diseases, belong to the Covid-19 risk group.

The additional requirement, especially due to restrictions on food tables and the need to buy masks and other aids, cannot be covered by the standard rate. "

The impact of the virus on the Munich residents is evident from the

.

"In January and February we had a low level among benefit recipients compared to the previous year," explains spokesman Donner, "but then Corona came and caused the numbers to rise rapidly." The new Hartz IV recipients in Munich are increasing the following professional groups:

• Self-employed such as photographers, artists, graphic designers and taxi drivers.

• Short-time workers

  whose reduced wages are no longer sufficient to survive in Munich.

• Low-wage

  earners

  or people without professional qualifications who cannot work in the home office: cleaning staff, kitchen staff, hotel employees, employees in retail.

  You are often among those employees who have not been employed in their company for long and are therefore the first to be

  affected

  by corona-related

  layoffs

  .

"For many citizens in Munich, life is sewn to the edge anyway," says VdK boss Mascher.

“The financial

.

Many people who were able to save themselves from month to month before are now giving way. “