Hartz IV: Sanctions are suspended longer than planned
Created: 05/13/2022Updated: 05/13/2022 2:39 p.m
By: Patricia Huber
A large part of the controversial Hartz IV sanctions have already been suspended.
This moratorium is now being extended.
And the Greens are fighting for even fewer penalties.
Berlin - The traffic light coalition wants to reform Hartz IV.
In the future, social assistance will then be called citizen money.
In addition to the new name, there should also be some change in the already controversial sanctions.
These enabled the job centers to reduce the Hartz IV standard rate of 449 euros if the recipient does not fulfill their obligations.
This approach was strongly criticized by social organizations, since Hartz IV is intended to secure the subsistence level.
Hartz IV: Moratorium temporarily suspends sanctions
Since it may still be some time before citizen income is introduced, the Federal Cabinet decided on a so-called sanctions moratorium on March 16.
This means that no sanctions may be imposed on recipients until December 31st.
But there is still one exception: Anyone who does not show up at an agreed appointment at the job center without good reason must expect a sanction and thus a reduction in benefits.
Now, however, there are a few important changes.
As the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
reports, the sanctions moratorium is expected to be extended until July 2023.
This was confirmed by the factions of the traffic light coalition.
According to the report, the deadline sanctions should also be severely restricted.
Here the Greens are said to have prevailed against the resistance of the FDP and SPD.
Hartz IV: Social organizations sharply criticize sanctions
When the moratorium was introduced, the Paritätischer Gesamtverband criticized the fact that around 65 percent of all sanctions were due to missed deadlines.
Thus, if this special date sanction were to exist, a large part of the penalties would remain in place.
The Diakonie has also criticized the sanctions against Hartz VI recipients as counterproductive and welcomes their planned suspension.
"As Diakonie, we know from our daily counseling practice: Hartz IV sanctions affect people with special problems," explained Maria Loheide, Head of Social Policy at Diakonie Germany.
She referred to people who can
not read and write well, or who have mental illnesses or addiction problems.
Additional pressure from sanctions aggravates their situation and does not contribute to solving their individual problems.
