Hartz IV rule set: association demands increase to double – “bad joke”

Created: 01/29/2022, 06:16

By: Patricia Huber

According to calculations by the Paritätisches Gesamtverband, the Hartz IV standard rate is clearly too low.

© Niehoff/Imago Images

Criticism of the Hartz IV standard rate is raised again and again.

Now the parity association has also spoken out and appealed to Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil.

Berlin - Despite the high inflation rate and the associated ever-increasing cost of living, the Hartz IV* rate was only marginally adjusted at the turn of the year.

Recipients of the standard rate now receive three euros more.

For children it is only two euros.

That's 449 euros per month for a single adult.

The rent does not have to be paid from this, but electricity costs do.

And the ones that keep getting higher and higher.

Hartz IV: Poverty-proof standard rate should be 678 euros

The Paritätisches Gesamtverband has now presented a calculation in a press release that shows that the current Hartz IV standard rate* is a good 50 percent too low.

Accordingly, a "poverty-proof standard rate" should be 678 euros.

“The Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband criticizes that the standard rate was arbitrarily reduced by statistical tricks.

The most recent adjustment as of January 1, 2022 by only three euros to currently 449 euros does not even compensate for the price development, it even leads to a real loss of purchasing power and is unconstitutional as a result.

Hartz IV: Parity association calls for 100 euros in emergency aid

The association is therefore appealing to Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil SPD and calling for a needs-based adjustment of the standard rates, as well as short-term emergency aid of EUR 100 per person per month.

These 100 euros should compensate for the additional costs caused by the pandemic and inflation.

Ulrich Schneider, General Manager of the Paritätischer Gesamtverband, speaks of a "bad joke" when the standard rate increase of three euros.

Schneider also explains: "We will also measure this federal government by the fact that it does not leave the poorest alone in their misery for another legislative period, but goes on the offensive in terms of poverty policy."