Social
Reform plans for citizens’ benefits for those who refuse to work are controversial
Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil has suggested that the federal government tighten sanctions for citizens’ benefit recipients who repeatedly reject reasonable job offers. photo
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
How do you get more people to accept job offers? Minister Heil wants to tighten sanctions on citizens’ money. His own party youth accuses him of letting people go hungry.
The reform plans of Labor Minister Hubertus Heil Citizens’ benefits for those who refuse to work are controversial in political Berlin. While Finance Minister Christian Lindner and politicians from the SPD and Union welcomed the move, social associations, Jusos and the Left warned of severe social consequences.
The SPD politician Heil has suggested that the federal government tighten sanctions for citizens’ benefit recipients who repeatedly reject reasonable job offers. The state should temporarily only pay them the costs of accommodation and heating in order to avoid homelessness. The standard citizen’s benefit rate – 563 euros per month for single people – is to be eliminated for two months.
Lindner: Contribution to the 2024 budget concept
This has not yet been finally agreed upon in the cabinet. Finance Minister Lindner (FDP) has already signaled his approval. “In this way, the Minister of Labor is not only implementing his contribution to the 2024 budget concept. Above all, the acceptance of the welfare state will be strengthened if compensation is also required,” he told the German Press Agency.
In the coming year we will have to continue thinking in this direction, said Lindner. “The system of our social benefits must be examined to ensure that work is always more worthwhile than giving up a job.”
Jusos: Incompatible with human dignity
There were different reactions from the SPD. The social policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Martin Rosemann, emphasized that it was about a very small number of people who consistently refused all offers. “And it is precisely at this point that it is justifiable to tighten the sanction options. In the end, this is also a question of justice,” he said.
The Jusos, on the other hand, accused Heil of letting people starve as a sanction. “The proposal to cut all services other than rent is neither compatible with human dignity nor with the basic idea of citizens’ money,” said Juso boss Philip Türmer to the “Tagesspiegel”.
Dobrindt (CSU): “Ampel rewards the lazy with citizens’ money”
The left also criticized Heil. The traffic light government is restructuring the budget on the backs of people with little money, stepping down and playing people off against each other, said party leader Martin Schirdewan. And all because she is not prepared to place greater burdens on the rich and wealthy. Ulrich Schneider from the Joint Association warned on ARD that the federal government was driving people into misery.
Heil, however, received approval from the Union. “Citizens’ money is the social safety net in our country, but solidarity cannot be a one-way street,” said Bundestag member Marc Biadacz. CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt called for the complete abolition of citizens’ money. “With citizens’ money, the traffic light rewards the lazy, but above all it drives those who can count into social welfare,” he said.