If you have to flip every franc twice, you get a lot of inflation. In November, the conference of social directors of the cantons called for an increase in social assistance. Analogous to the adjustment of the AHV and IV pensions, the so-called basic requirement in social assistance will also be increased by 2.5 percent. Namely with 25 francs to 1031 francs per month. That’s 300 francs a year.
Most cantons have followed this recommendation. But not everything.
Bern observes instead of acting
While the canton of Bern will pay its civil servants 1.2 percent more wages next year, those entitled to social assistance are waiting in vain for an adjustment in the cost of living. Instead of taking action, the Bernese government prefers to wait and ‘observe’ the situation.
Bern is the only canton that has not increased its basic social needs by a single franc for more than a decade. All in all, welfare recipients in Bern will receive almost 650 francs less this year than in most other cantons. Basic needs should be enough to pay for food, clothing, public transport tickets and all other personal expenses. For example, rent and health insurance are charged separately. As early as 2014, the city council of the city of Bern described the lack of cost-of-living adjustments as “incomprehensible”.
communities protest
The fact that the canton is stingy with social security recipients is causing resentment in some communities. For example, the municipality of Madiswil believes that an increase is “urgently appropriate” given inflation and rising electricity prices. You and about two dozen other communities and community associations have expressed their anger in a letter to the cantonal government.
But the Bernese government is not impressed. According to them, there is no reason to increase the basic requirement. For example, electricity prices are not higher in the BKW supply area than in recent years, says Gundekar Giebel, spokesman for the Ministry of Social Affairs of the canton of Bern. Moreover, not only the basic needs should be included in the assessment of the living situation of people entitled to social assistance.
“People on social assistance benefits are entitled to personal and economic help and also to a large number of social provisions to be able to participate in social life”, Giebel justifies the government’s position. The cantonal parliament also rejected adjustments to the cost of living in social assistance when discussing the 2023 budget.
The Bernese top man does not think it is a problem that the employees of the canton receive higher wages at the same time. You cannot compare the basic need for assistance and a wage.
St. Gallen also stingy
Nathalie Barthoulot (54), government councilor Jura and chair of the conference of social directors, does not want to comment on Bern’s departure. But she insists: “People on social assistance benefits in particular are hit hard by inflation. So a balance is needed.”
Another German-speaking canton that ignores the recommendation is St. Gallen. Social assistance there is the responsibility of the municipalities. An increase was recommended for them as of 1 January. However, it is about implementing an older recommendation, not about adjusting the cost of living. This while the wages of canton employees have risen by 1.5 percent due to inflation.
Elsewhere it takes a little longer
Geneva, on the other hand, has decided to compensate for inflation, but on a smaller scale than most other cantons. In addition, the rates for the basic assistance obligation are still lower than in many places, even after the increase. The cantons of Jura and Solothurn also pay less than CHF 1,031 per month for a single person, although both have increased the previous amount by 2.5 percent through 2023, as recommended.
There are also some cantons that do not adjust the assistance to inflation until later. Neuchâtel, for example, only on April 1 Valais at an unspecified time “in the spring”. The Nidwalden government has announced that the decision can be expected next week. The increase in social assistance would then have to take place with retroactive effect from 1 January. The canton of Fribourg has not yet communicated whether and to what extent it will adjust the assistance rates to inflation.
Parliament now decides in Bern
The increase has long been decided in Zurich, among others. “Many benefit recipients are particularly affected by the current situation,” government councilor Mario Fehr said in a government statement. For them, the canton is there “even in difficult times”.
The last word has not yet been spoken in Bern either. The Greens are using the price increase as an opportunity to make another attempt in parliament for higher social security rates in the canton. The Grand Council will probably discuss this in the spring.