Hartz IV and high prices: simply "shopping more efficiently"?

Harsh criticism of SPD spokeswoman

Created: 04/26/2022, 04:53

By: Lisa Mayerhofer

Should poor people receive a flat-rate food allowance?

(symbol image) © Imagebroker/Imago

The prices keep going up.

Should poor people therefore receive a flat-rate food allowance?

An SPD spokeswoman preferred to give advice on healthy eating – and was harshly criticized for it.

Berlin – In the debate about rising food prices, an expert from the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) proposed a lump sum to relieve poor people such as Hartz IV recipients.

"A one-time food allowance of 100 euros for transfer recipients would make sense," said the head of the macroeconomics department, Alexander Kriwoluzky, the

.

DGB board member Stefan Körzell also called for a financial surcharge for recipients of social transfers as an immediate measure in the newspaper in order to cushion the sharply rising prices for energy and food.

SPD spokeswoman gives advice for Hartz IV recipients

On the other hand, the nutrition policy spokeswoman for the SPD parliamentary group, Rita Hagl-Kehl, emphasized that Germans could continue to afford healthy food despite rising food prices.

"Eating healthily does not immediately mean paying a higher price," said the social democrat to the

.

How people eat depends not only on the price, but also on the appreciation of food and food in general.

"If we don't shop too much, but shop efficiently and thoughtfully and don't throw away or waste our groceries, we will be able to afford a healthy diet," said Hagl-Kehl.

With a view to demands for further financial relief for low earners, Hagl Kehl referred to the measures that have already been decided: "Through the energy price flat rate, the pension increase and the financial support for families and social benefit recipients, the federal government has decided on important and efficient measures that all citizens, but above all, relieve those who need it most,” emphasized Hagl-Kehl.

Hartz IV critic: "That's disgusting, Mrs. Hagl-Kehl"

The blogger, former job center employee and Hartz IV critic Inge Hannemann is outraged: "Why does someone always come along and think they have to educate?

That's disgusting, Ms. Hagl-Kehl, and ignores the needs of those affected by poverty," she wrote on Twitter.

She goes on to explain on the subject of grocery shopping and food appreciation: “It's not that simple.

The poor cannot save.

The prices in the markets are flying in people's ears.

With or without basic security.

I don't know any poor people who are wasteful with food.

Every euro counts.

Every savings counts.” Nobody has the right to dictate to someone “whether they buy chips or not”.

In the comments, most Twitter users hit Hannemann's side.

A user writes: “I still have to go shopping anyway.

Let's see if I can pay with appreciation." Another user suggests the same notch: "Attitude!

How is it booked at the Aldi or Penny registers?” Another user writes: “I mean, my roommate and I (both affected by poverty) have been living on sandwiches, pasta and potatoes since the beginning of the Ukraine invasion.”