Citizens’ Income in Germany. Life in Germany. Ulrich Schneider, former president of the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband (Joint Welfare Association), has been pushing for changes to Citizens’ Income (now called Bürgergeld, formerly Hartz IV) for years. He believes the benefits were miscalculated and don’t reflect people’s real lives. The Joint Research Centre says benefits should be raised by 50 percent to at least 725 euros to effectively fight poverty. Schneider compares penalties against benefit recipients to corporal punishment.
Major Increase in Citizens’ Income? Single People Should Get 800 Euros
In an interview with the Berliner Tagesspiegel, Ulrich Schneider called for a standard citizen’s allowance of 800 euros for single people. He said, “The citizen’s allowance should be increased by a little more than 40 percent. It would be a moderate increase.” He dismissed concerns that employees would not receive 40 percent more. “That’s not the point at all. When it comes to citizens’ money, we are talking about the basic living level. If you exclude all the tricks used to lower the standard rate, you end up with around 800 euros.“
Citizenship Sanctions Should Be Abolished: ‘Like Corporal Punishment
To justify his request, Schneider pointed to expenses that are currently not covered by Citizens’ Income. He mentioned items like a bouquet of tulips, a Christmas tree, and grave decorations. “There’s a cultural consensus in this country that there has to be money for things like this.” He also noted that the standard rate excludes dry cleaning expenses, such as for a suit. “It’s part of our culture that you don’t show up to a job interview in a dirty suit.”
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Schneider does not support sanctions against beneficiaries of Citizens’ Income. He said, “All sanctions should be removed when it comes to Citizens’ Income. What was once considered corporal punishment in schools is now used as penalties for citizens’ money.” He compared the outdated belief in corporal punishment to the current use of sanctions, suggesting that we now understand better. Schneider emphasized that personal responsibility affects whether an individual can meet their obligations, but he added, “There are many people whose energy and courage to face life are completely drained. Sanctions do not help them at all,” according to Merkur.de.
Reforming Citizens’ Income: Higher Requirements and Tougher Penalties for Beneficiaries
Schneider’s requests come at a time when Citizens’ Income and its beneficiaries are facing increased pressure. The traffic light coalition has announced significant changes, raising requirements for beneficiaries and toughening penalties. Meanwhile, the opposition is pushing for even more reforms. CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann wants to completely eliminate Citizens’ Income for over 100,000 people, and CSU General Secretary Martin Huber is calling for the traffic light coalition to phase out Citizens’ Income altogether.