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Citizens’ income instead of Hartz IV: From 2023, the amount of the standard rate will increase. Is work still worth it then? Sarah-Lee Heinrich (Greens) is annoyed. An interview.
Berlin – Goodbye Hartz IV, hello citizen’s allowance: From 2023, the previous system of basic security will be replaced. The federal cabinet decided to replace Hartz IV at the suggestion of Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD). The unemployed should get higher standard rates from January. Sarah-Lee Heinrich, who once described Hartz IV as blackmail, fought for it for a long time. But the spokeswoman for the Green Youth doesn’t really want to be in a jubilant mood.
Citizens’ allowance: Reform of Hartz IV from 2023 – Sarah-Lee Heinrich (Green Youth) insists on higher standard rates
The youth organization wanted more from the politics the federal government. But when it came to the standard rates or the abolition of sanctions, the Greens had to bow to the majority in the traffic light coalition. In an exclusive interview, Sarah-Lee Heinrich explains why high rates should actually be in the interest of all Germans in times of enormous crises, whether the reform is a misnomer and why the poorest are being played off against the poor kreiszeitung.de:
After a long debate, one thing is certain: Citizens’ income is coming. Is this now a real reform – or just a misnomer?
What bothers you about the reform?
Why? Doesn’t it make more sense to place the unemployed in jobs – instead of letting them continue to stew in further training measures?
So far it was like this: Hartz IV recipients could be withdrawn from further training and then mainly be put into temporary, poorly paid jobs – until they inevitably ended up back in the Hartz IV system. It is correct that they finally want to end this revolving door principle and put a greater focus on further training.
Citizens’ allowance 2023 instead of Hartz IV: Ampel was reluctant to set the standard rates – not only because of the FDP
Nevertheless, the reform of citizen income 2023 remains a patchwork. With their demand for the abolition of sanctions, the Greens did not get a majority in the coalition. They are only suspended for half a year – a bad compromise?
I think it’s wrong to stick to the sanctions as they are. There’s a lot of talk these days about citizen money should breathe a spirit of encouragement and empowerment. For me, it also means that you don’t just trust people who work part-time in poorly paid jobs, who care for relatives or who simply can’t find work, for more than six months
I sometimes have the impression that people like to blame her for that. But during the coalition negotiations, the SPD did not push hard for the sanctions to be abolished or the standard rates to be increased. I think the Social Democrats sometimes allow themselves to be carried away by playing the poor off against the poorest.
The Social Democrats sometimes get carried away by playing off the poor against the poorest.
When will the citizen money come? Energy crisis will already burden people with basic social security in 2022
But is it fair if a Hartz IV recipient gets the heating costs transferred in addition to their standard rate, while a low-income earner gets stuck with the high bills and ends up with less? CDU Vice Linnemann is already calling for a heating cost cap. when is this coming
This kind of reasoning implies that the unemployed would be heating out the window for no reason. That’s a nasty assumption that’s just not true. They produce the lowest heating costs because they usually live in small apartments. And they have to pay for the electricity themselves.
In other words, you now also get high bills.
Yes. This is a real problem. But of course Herr Linnemann doesn’t talk about that. Behind this is the old trick of the conservatives and the employers’ associations of playing off low earners and Hartz IV recipients against each other so that no one gets the idea that the real problem is the low wages. That’s a lousy move, but everyone in Germany should have an interest in expanding basic security significantly.
Why?
We are stuck in a huge social and economic crisis. In this respect, a strong basic security is not only in the interest of those who are currently on Hartz IV. In such a crisis, anyone can quickly fall into the abyss and lose their job. I sense a great deal of insecurity in society. But we are making the social safety net extremely full of holes because the coalition is so unambitious there. This is a huge mistake.
Applying for Citizens’ Allowance – from when and how much?
Citizens’ income is to replace the previous Hartz IV system from January 1, 2023. It represents the basic security for people looking for work. Needy people have to apply for payment from the Federal Employment Agency (BA) and its job centers. But how much do you get? The amount of the standard rates depends on the living conditions. So far, a single person has been paid 449 euros per month. In the future, he will receive 502 euros in citizen money. There are separate rates for families and children.
Citizens’ Income: From When? Introduction should be accompanied by an increase in the minimum wage in 2023
What improvements do you suggest?
It would be important, just as the trade unions are demanding, for us to provide Hartz IV recipients and low-income earners with substantial direct payments via a relief package so that they can compensate for the high energy costs in the short term. But we also need high wage agreements. We also need to talk about the minimum wage.
The minimum wage rises to 12 euros in October. The first voices call for an increase to 15 to 18 euros. They also?
It is a first step that it is raised. But we also know that the increase will be eaten up by inflation. That’s why I think we need to keep talking about the minimum wage. At the end of the day, a decent minimum wage is the best way to dry out the low-wage sector and ensure everyone can make a good living from their work. The Union is just discovering its heart for low earners, so they can talk to us about raising the minimum wage.
Your coalition partner from the FDP has already hesitated with the last increase, because that cannot be reconciled with your party program.
I don’t think there can be any discussion. To be honest, I’m not interested in what the FDP has in its program. All parties in government must engage in the debate on how to fight poverty in this society. You can’t pay your bills with an FDP party program either. More and more people don’t know how to get through this winter and it must now be a matter of mastering this social crisis. I don’t care about FDP sensitivities. It doesn’t matter whether it’s further relief, the reform of the citizen’s income or higher wages for everyone – we as Green Youth will definitely keep the pressure up.
To person: Sarah-Lee Heinrich has been the spokeswoman for the Green Youth since October 2021. The 21-year-old, who studies social sciences at the University of Cologne, runs the youth organization together with Timon Dzienus. She is watching the citizens’ income reform with eagle eyes. Because Heinrich grew up with Hartz IV himself. She is the first in her family to go to college.
List of rubrics: © Bodo Schackow/Sebastian Gollnow/Martin Schutt/dpa/Montage
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