Rekindled debate
Despite the budget crisis: Ampel is sticking to the citizen’s benefit increase, government spokesman assures
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (r.) next to spokesman Steffen Hebestreit
© Tobias Schwarz / AFP
The traffic light budget crisis has sparked a renewed discussion about citizens’ money. The FDP is calling for a reassessment. Now the government spokesman makes it clear: There will be no savings on the planned increase.
The renewed discussion about citizens’ money was sparked by the government’s current budget crisis. If the 2024 federal budget is to be passed this year, the SPD, FDP and Greens must soon agree on the next course.
The coalition party FDP and the opposition Union had therefore called for the planned increase in social benefits to be canceled at the turn of the year. They justified this, on the one hand, with the austerity constraints in the 2024 budget and, on the other hand, with the fact that the rate increase by twelve percent was based on an inflation expectation, which, however, did not occur at the level forecast.
Heil intervenes in the citizens’ money debate
Criticism of these demands comes from, among others, Federal Social Minister Hubertus Heil. The SPD politician criticized it as “morally irresponsible and incompatible with the constitution to want to deny these people an adjustment to the standard rates.” The statements made by “various conservative politicians are not a contribution to the solution, but rather poison the social climate,” he explained.
Heil explained: “Germany is and remains a social, constitutional state.” Decency, solidarity and charity are a strength of our society. “We use citizen’s money to get people into work and at the same time secure the existence of people who are in need and need our help.”
As examples, the minister cited people with chronic illnesses and disabilities, single parents, children and young people, and “hard-working employees who top up their wages so they can make ends meet.”
Budget crisis triggers renewed debate
In contrast to previous adjustments to the standard rates, the inflation, which had risen sharply over months, was taken more into account in the calculation for 2024 due to a change in the rules. According to General Secretary Carsten Linnemann, the CDU wants to significantly reduce the citizen’s allowance of able-bodied young adults if they take over the government.
The amount of citizen’s money is based on a so-called price index relevant to standard needs. This includes, among other things, expenses for food, household electricity, home furnishings and public transport.