Hartz IV: High electricity prices endanger livelihoods - Caritas warns and appeals to the traffic light coalition

Created: 01/03/2022, 3:30 PM

By: Patricia Huber

The rising energy prices are a challenge, especially for Hartz IV recipients.

© Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / dpa

Rising energy prices are an additional financial burden for many consumers.

Caritas warns that high electricity costs can have serious consequences, especially for Hartz IV recipients.

Berlin - The electricity and heating costs will remain high in the new year.

This is a big problem, especially for low-income households and Hartz IV * recipients. The skyrocketing prices could even endanger livelihoods.

Caritas warns of this in a press release.

Hartz-IV: Electricity costs should be covered by standard requirements

A survey of almost 300 debtor, social and migration advisors from Caritas shows the consequences of rising energy prices for Hartz IV recipients.

Because 88 percent of the advisors stated that Hartz IV recipients who visit the advice center have energy debts.

Caritas President Eva Maria Welskopf-Deffaa warns: “The electricity costs are not covered sufficiently as a rule.

We cannot accept energy poverty with sight. ”The Hartz IV standard rate * is currently 449 euros per month.

The electricity costs must also be paid from this.

But with prices rising and the cost of living always rising, this becomes a financial challenge for many recipients.

Hartz-IV: People in rural areas in particular suffer from high energy costs

Ralf Ritter, debt counselor and managing director of the Caritas Association for the districts of Uelzen / Lüchow-Dannenberg, sees recipients who live in the countryside in particular at risk. "People in rural regions are affected in three ways by the increased prices: They mostly drive old diesels, the apartments are heated with oil or gas and the high electricity bills come on top of that." Refurbishment could help many apartments, energy costs and thus money To save money.

Because energy costs for households have risen by around 30 percent, reports Ritter.

"Low-income families cannot bear that." To relieve the burden, Caritas President Eva Maria Welskopf-Deffaa calls on the traffic light parties to quickly implement the plans from the coalition agreement.

It says "We will strengthen the housing benefit, introduce a climate component and pay a one-off increased heating cost subsidy at short notice." In addition, she calls for an unbureaucratic assumption of heating costs for people who receive the basic security.