Hartz IV recipients will still have to pay for electricity in 2022 despite the higher standard rate 

The standard rate for Hartz IV will be increased slightly at the turn of the year.

But the rising electricity prices are hardly taken into account.

For Hartz IV recipients, this is becoming an ever greater problem.

Heidelberg - Hartz IV recipients will still not receive enough money to cover their electricity costs at the turn of the year * despite the increase in the standard rates.

For people living alone, the gap averages 95 euros per year, according to the comparison portal Verivox.

As of January 1, 2022, the standard rate for a single adult will increase by 3 euros to 449 euros per month.

According to Verivox, 36.44 euros are intended to pay the electricity bill.

However, the electricity costs of a single household with a consumption of 1500 kilowatt hours amounted to 44.33 euros per month on a national average.

Video: Criticism of the new Hartz IV rule set

Social associations and consumer advocates have long criticized the fact that the Hartz IV * rates do not contain enough electricity.

Because of the tight rates, those affected are often not in a position to offset the high electricity costs with savings elsewhere.

The rates should be geared more closely to the actual electricity demand.

Hartz IV: Electricity price rises significantly faster than the standard rate

Since the introduction of Hartz IV in 2005, the standard rate has increased gradually by around 30 percent, emphasized Verivox.

The electricity prices would have increased by an average of 59 percent over the same period, and by as much as 80 percent for the basic supply.

The gap between the electricity share in the Hartz IV rate and the actual costs has therefore grown.