Bundestag debates citizens’ income: “Largest social reform in 20 years”

Hartz IV should be history on January 1st – and given a friendlier face, renamed citizen income. What the coalition celebrates is sharply criticized by the opposition in the Bundestag.

This day is historic for the SPD. At least Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Hubertus Heil is looking for the big word: The introduction of citizen income is the biggest social reform for 20 years. The first goal of the coalition is “that the people who need help get it, that’s a promise of protection from the state,” explains Heil.

The second goal of the coalition is to get people back to work permanently. A few things are to change in the job centers. Heil calls it eye level. The employees of the job center should agree on further training measures with the long-term unemployed and agree on a timetable.

grace period for starters

For the labor market expert of the Greens, Beate Müller-Gemecke, this is a paradigm shift: “It’s good that we’re getting over Hartz IV. Citizens’ income has a different, appreciative view.”

The coalition has imposed a waiting period for the initial period of citizenship benefit. The size of the apartment does not matter, and assets of up to 60,000 euros do not have to be touched. Among other things, the Union bothers.

CDU MP Kai Witthaker worries about those who work. “In view of the rising energy prices, people with very low incomes will calculate very carefully whether they would not be better off giving up their jobs and applying for citizens’ benefits instead,” says Witthaker. Work must always be worthwhile, otherwise social peace would be endangered.

Criticism of “too few sanctions”

The AfD does not believe that the federal government’s further training and qualification strategy will work. For MP Gerrit Huy, evidence to the contrary has been provided often enough: “It’s nothing more than a softened Hartz IV – and that didn’t work. For example, it wasn’t possible to get out of the army of millions of Hartz IV benefit recipients to recruit only 100 or 200 people to transport suitcases at German airports.”

AfD and Union also repeatedly criticize that there should be fewer sanctions in the future if those affected do not comply with the agreements with the job center. It should also be possible to reduce the citizen’s income in the first six months of receipt by the office if someone misses an appointment – by up to 30 percent.

But that is often suppressed in the criticism, about which the FDP MP Jens Teutrine is quite upset. According to Teutrine, an opposition party is needed to drive and criticize the government. “But criticize us for what we’re doing and don’t invent any fake news. It’s dangerous – whether it’s an increase in the standard rate or sanctions. Stop it! It’s a dangerous business you’re doing,” Teutrine continues.

Left: Rule rate increase too low

The standard rate should be increased by an average of 50 euros – for Jessica Tatti from the left faction an arbitrary amount. “You just fiddle around with the standard rate until you get what the minister wanted. That’s not a real increase in the standard rate, it’s pure inflation compensation,” says Tatti.

Citizens’ income is to come into effect on January 1st – exactly 18 years to the day after the introduction of Hartz IV.