Hartz IV: When will the standard rate be increased?

Created: 02/22/2022, 16:58

By: Lisa Mayerhofer

Rising energy and food prices are making life difficult for poor families and Hartz IV recipients.

© Michael Gstettenbauer/Imago

Rising energy and food prices are making life difficult for poor families.

Associations are therefore demanding an increase in the standard rate for Hartz IV recipients.

Berlin – Food prices and costs for electricity and heating* continue to rise.

The Munich-based Ifo Institute expects food prices to be a key inflation driver this year.

The Institute is assuming an increase in food prices of seven percent compared to the previous year.

Social associations: More help for Hartz IV recipients

Social organizations have long been alarmed about the possible effects that these price increases can have for Hartz IV recipients.

17 nationwide organizations, including the German Federation of Trade Unions, welfare and social organizations such as the Paritätische Gesamtverband and Diakonie Deutschland and child rights and youth organizations such as the German Child Protection Association and the German Federal Youth Council, appealed to the government in February.

In an open letter to the traffic light coalition, they demand that targeted and substantial aid for the poorest be decided quickly.

In the letter, which the Jusos and Green Youth also signed, she reminds the federal government of its promise of an immediate bonus for children affected by poverty in the coalition agreement.

They also point to the standard rates for children, young people and adults in the systems of basic security such as Hartz IV*, which they describe as “insufficient anyway”.

It was “high time to counteract poverty policy”.

"It is with great concern" that "the immediate bonus for children affected by poverty announced in the coalition agreement is a long time coming and so far no steps have been taken to support all recipients of basic security benefits".

"It cannot be that the poorest of all people are left behind again".

Immediate child allowance for Hartz IV families

Family Minister Anne Spiegel (Greens) said last week that the federal government was "working flat out on the exact design" of the immediate bonus for children from poor families.

An exact amount and when it would be paid out has not yet been announced.

According to one report, the Family Ministry favors an amount of 25 euros - but still has to agree with the Social Affairs and Finance Ministries.

It may be that the children's immediate bonus will be the only payment for Hartz IV recipients this year.

Last year, the previous government announced that the price development for the standard rate would only “be included in the update for 2023”.

In January, the standard rate was then increased by three euros - an amount that cannot compensate for the increased prices.

The question is whether the traffic light coalition will take countermeasures this year.

At the moment, the government is also working on restructuring Hartz IV into so-called citizen money.

After all: Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) said in January in a subordinate clause about increased electricity prices: "There will be higher rates for housing benefit and Hartz IV *, which can then compensate for the cost increase to a certain extent." But he did not mention anything specific either Implementation date.

With material from the dpa

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