As of: April 4, 2024, 7:19 a.m
By: Bona Hyun
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Press
Split
In the debate about citizens' money, the tone is becoming harsher again. Among other things, financial support for refugees from Ukraine is coming to the fore.
Berlin – Union politicians are calling for a rethink in the discussion about citizens’ money. “The federal government is making life difficult for us by immediately putting all Ukraine refugees on citizen’s allowance,” said
Reinhard Sager (CDU), President of the German District Association in an interview with Die
Welt
.
Debate about citizens' money for Ukraine refugees: "The federal government is making life difficult for us"
Sager referred to the difficult situation in the districts. “We have the situation that the districts cover 47 percent of the total accommodation costs across Germany.” In Ukraine, the districts would provide 67 percent of all services.
Citizens' money is usually paid out on the 1st of the month, but due to Easter the payment is postponed to April 2024. (Symbolic image) © Guido Schiefer/Imago
Citizens' benefit for Ukraine refugees: demand for a rethink
In the past, discussions about citizens' benefits for refugees from Ukraine had caused controversy. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) recently rejected considerations of only paying asylum benefits to refugees coming from Ukraine instead of citizens' benefits.
Background: According to the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, a single asylum seeker is entitled to a maximum of 460 euros per month. The rate for a single adult is 563 euros per month. However, there are requirements that must be met so that Ukrainian refugees can receive citizen's allowance or other social benefits.
You must have a residence permit or a “fictitious certificate” from the immigration authority. Refugees receive a fictitious certificate if a decision has not yet been made about their residence permit, for example because documents are missing.
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What is citizen's money?
Citizens' money is part of the benefits to secure a living and therefore part of the benefits to ensure a humane minimum subsistence level. People who are able to work and have little or no income are entitled to citizen's benefit. The standard needs to secure a living include in particular needs for food, clothing, personal hygiene, household goods as well as needs for participation in social and cultural life in the community. The standard requirement is taken into account as a monthly flat rate.
Lindner calls for an update to citizen's money: "No unconditional basic income"
FDP leader Christian Lindner also wants to tweak some areas of citizens' money. However, the finance minister is less concerned with relieving the burden on municipalities. “We have to do everything we can to ensure that people who can work actually work,” Lindner told the
Rheinische Post
. Lindner spoke out in favor of an “update” of citizens’ money. It is “not an unconditional basic income”. A majority of the population perceives the citizen's benefit as unfair because it contains too few incentives to take up work. (bohy/dpa)
.