It’s probably the calm before the storm. “It’s still surprisingly quiet here,” says Christian Freund, head of the social welfare office in Ismaning. “But there’s something coming our way.” The colleagues in the social welfare offices of the town halls in the district of Munich agree on this. The first additional payment demands from the gas and electricity suppliers have already fluttered into the house, the deductions are increasing – and after the most recent week’s shopping in the supermarket, some people have to swallow because there is hardly any money left in their wallets. The energy crisis and inflation are driving up the cost of living rapidly and this is bringing many people to their financial limits, even in the generally prosperous district of Munich.
The municipalities and the district as well as social organizations are therefore preparing under high pressure for the increasing need for advice from citizens. Because, that’s the good news: there are many professionally equipped facilities in the district to get advice and very specific help.
The first port of call for many are the town halls. “The current situation also affects citizens who have not yet had any contact with social assistance,” reports Peter Köstler (CSU), Mayor of Gräfelfing. They often don’t even know where to turn and come to the town hall when they are in trouble. The employees there check whether someone can claim financial aid from the state treasury. “Our job is primarily to be the point of contact and to refer those seeking help with specific issues to the right advice centers,” says Christian Freund from Ismaning.
The expert advises seeking help as soon as possible
Probably the most pressing problem for many people at the moment is the fear of no longer being able to pay their current expenses. “The citizens of the district of Munich are particularly affected by the high energy costs and inflation,” says Beate Berndl, debt counselor at Arbeiterwohlfahrt (Awo) München-Land, which provides debt and insolvency advice with Caritas in the district of Munich. Living costs and rents around Munich are particularly high. There are a lot of people who live on the subsistence level, so have little more than 1300 euros a month as a single, says Berndl. The problem: “Many are ashamed to seek help and only come when an account has already been seized and the account is blocked,” according to Berndl’s experience. Most of them didn’t even know they were entitled to help.
The expert advises citizens to seek help at an early stage – preferably when they are just making ends meet, but it is already running out every month.
“Many are ashamed,” says Beate Berndl, debt counselor at the Awo district association in Munich-Land.
(Photo: private)
There are actually many support options and state aid. The challenge, however, is to know the right help and to find the appropriate contact points. Depending on the specific situation in life, the job center of the district, the housing benefit office, the debt counseling center or the housing emergency help are possible. In view of the rising heating and energy costs, for example, it could be advisable for low-income workers to have the job center calculate whether they can top up their income with benefits under the Social Security Code (SGB II); Pensioners with a low pension entitlement can have the social welfare office of the district office calculate whether they are entitled to basic security in old age, as Christine Spiegel, spokeswoman for the district office, explains.
The Munich district office lists on its website in its virtual social citizen office all support options and access to them, so that everyone who is looking for help can find what they are looking for. The discussion is also currently underway about creating three new comprehensive advice centers in the district and setting up an emergency aid fund for citizens in financial emergencies, similar to the Corona emergency aid fund.
After all, nobody has to starve, says Sauerlach’s mayor
Some municipalities in the district are already using a similar concept. “We have citizens who like to donate large sums of money,” says Barbara Bogner (UBV), Mayor of Sauerlach. The money comes to a special account and is intended for citizens “of whom we know that it has been scarce for a long time”. In this way, an energy bill can also be paid from it. Of course, a check is made beforehand to see whether deferral, payment in installments or going to the debt advice center is an option, says Bogner. But one thing is certain: “Nobody has to starve with us.”
There is also an emergency aid fund in Haar, which is managed by the social welfare office and provides unbureaucratic help. It is funded by donations, but the community also contributes. Mayor Andreas Bukowski (CSU) wants to propose to the municipal council that the fund be increased more extensively than usual this year. There is a community foundation in Graefelfing, the chairman of the board is Mayor Peter Köstler (CSU). With the earnings from the basic assets and thanks to donations, citizens can receive one-time financial help in individual cases, for example if the electricity bill is unpayable and the washing machine breaks down at the same time. “People should dare to come,” says Köstler. “We can help.”
Welfare organizations such as the social association VdK are also committed to helping people in financial need. You can clearly feel that prices are becoming a problem for more and more people, says the deputy managing director of the Munich district association, Danny Machne. The VdK provides support with its range of advice, but also offers its members in need, for example, shopping vouchers. Members of the local associations throughout Bavaria are currently collecting donations under the heading “Help Heal Wounds”, which are to be used as individual aid, for example as subsidies for heating costs or for the purchase of medical aids.
Those affected can find help here:
Social Citizens Office of the District of Munich
https://www.landkreis-muenchen.de/themen/familie-und-soziales/soziale-hilfe-und-notlagen/
Munich District Office, Mariahilfplatz 17, 81541 Munich
Debt counseling for workers’ welfare
Debt and insolvency advice for the district of Munich
Balanstrasse 55, 81541 Munich, phone 089/67 20 87 176
Housing emergency assistance from the workers’ welfare organization
www.awo-kvmucl.de/sozialservice-uebersicht/wohnungsnotfallhilfe/ueber-uns/
Balanstraße 55, 81541 Munich, appointment under 089/40 28 79 72 0
Caritas services
www.caritas-landkreis-muenchen.de/angebote/
Kreillerstrasse 24, 81673 Munich
Social psychiatric service of Caritas Schleissheim-Garching
Im Klosterfeld 14 B, 85716 Unterschleißheim, phone 089/32 18 32 31
Social association VdK Bavaria
Munich district association, Grillparzerstrasse 16, 81675 Munich, phone 089/890 83 20