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Hartz IV: 31 euros extra? Traffic light partners haggle for an increase

2021-11-19T14:22:55.294Z


Citizens' money instead of Hartz IV: The traffic light partners promise to increase the rate. But how much money can the unemployed hope for? Now details are seeping through.


Citizens' money instead of Hartz IV: The traffic light partners promise to increase the rate.

But how much money can the unemployed hope for?

Now details are seeping through.

Berlin - The debate about Hartz IV * continues to pick up speed: The partners of a possible traffic light coalition should plan to increase the standard rates.

An increase in ALG II payments by 31 euros per month to 480 euros is under discussion, reports Business Insider, citing negotiators in the current coalition negotiations.

But in the case of social organizations, the leaked numbers are more likely to cause disappointment than cheers.

Does the possible traffic light alliance fall short of its possibilities?

Financial aid for the unemployed:

Unemployment benefit II (called Hartz 4)

Introduced:

January 1, 2005

Legal basis:

Second book of social legislation

For weeks and months there has been a heated argument about labor market reform.

Currently, a single unemployed person is usually paid a rate of 446 euros per month.

From January, the remuneration will increase by three euros to 449 euros.

For trade unions and social associations, the increase is a "sheer mockery" *, as the President of the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband, Ulrich Schneider, has already complained several times.

Because, in his opinion, the increase doesn't even come close to offsetting the increased cost of living.

Hartz IV: Ampel-Koalition wants to increase the monthly rate to 480 euros

Indeed, inflation is a huge driving force behind the prices of everyday living.

In September, the rate of inflation cracked the four percent mark for the first time in 28 years.

Germans are feeling the rise in prices everywhere - when shopping for groceries at the supermarket checkout *, when filling up with petrol and diesel at the petrol station or when heating their own apartment.

Low-wage earners and Hartz IV recipients in particular suffer from it.

+

More money for Hartz IV recipients?

Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz (SPD, left) and party leader Robert Habeck (Greens) still have to clarify many controversial points.

© Britta Pedersen / dpa

The problem has already been recognized in the possible future federal government.

The Hartz IV system should actually be abolished and replaced by a new citizen's money *.

The SPD, Greens and FDP have already set this point in their published key issues paper after the end of the exploratory phase.

But the great promise of labor market reform is apparently reaching its limits the more the negotiators delve into the details of the coalition negotiations.

Bürgergeld instead of Hartz IV: How high will the standard rate be in the future?

Financing the increase tears billions holes in the Huashaltkasse

One does not want to give up the Hartz IV structure completely. For example, the controversial obligations to cooperate when looking for a job and the sanctions for disregard * should be maintained. Nevertheless, the Hartz recipients should end up having more money in their pockets. In addition to increasing the standard rate, the additional earnings limit is to be expanded and the control of saved assets is to be handled more generously.

But regardless of that, the reform of the citizens' money scheme costs a lot of money in the end.

Funding is becoming more and more of a sticking point, according to the Business Insider report.

According to Business Insider, the targeted surcharge of 31 euros per person per month alone tears a multi-digit billion hole in the household budget that would have to be recovered elsewhere.

However, it is extremely questionable whether the negotiators from the SPD, Greens and FDP really want to give way to the citizens' money project in view of further investment projects worth billions, for example in the area of ​​climate protection.

Hartz IV: Social Association criticizes the reform of the SPD, Greens and FDP - "subsistence level and bitter everyday hardship of millions of people"

One suspects bad things already at the social associations. As a precautionary measure, Schneider warned against disregarding the problem: “We are talking about the subsistence level and the bitter everyday hardship of millions of people. No coalition can afford to remain inactive here, ”said the President of Paritätische in a recently published statement. According to the calculations of his association, the standard rate would have to be increased to at least 600 euros in order to compensate for the increased cost of living.



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The social association has already received support from the Green Youth *.

Their federal spokeswoman Sarah-Lee Heinrich recently called for a premium of a similar amount.

“It is not the name that has to change, but the system,” she told the dpa news agency.

But whether the youth organization can prevail in the end remains to be seen.

According to reports, the level of the standard rate is now to be discussed among the top representatives of the three parties.

Agreement should be reached on all open points in the coalition agreement by the end of November at the latest.

By then, at the latest, the Hartz IV recipients will also have more clarity.

* Kreiszeitung.de and 24hamburg.de are offered by IPPEN.MEDIA.

List of rubric lists: © Britta Pedersen / dpa

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-11-19

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