Introducing Citizen Income In Germany Failed For Now 13 Climate Change Graphs Everyone Should Know

The introduction of the citizen income as a new social benefit in Germany has failed for the time being. The reform project of the center-left government did not find the required majority in the Bundesrat (chamber of state).

The citizen’s income, which is actually scheduled for January 1, is to replace the previous Hartz IV basic guarantee in Germany. The aim of the government is to enable those affected to focus more on further training and job search.

The law passed last week in the Bundestag by the parties of the “Traffic Light” coalition (SPD, FDP, Greens) provides for an increase in the current Hartz IV standard rate from 449 euros for singles to 502 euros. In addition, there are the costs for rent and heating.

In the future, the unemployed should also be less pressured by the threat of withdrawal of benefits (sanctions) and instead be given more support with upskilling measures. In addition, the requirements for the permitted capital and the size of the apartment for benefit recipients are being relaxed.

However, from the point of view of the Christian Democratic opposition, citizens’ income reduces their motivation to take up a job. She criticized, among other things, the reduction in the possibility of sanctions for unemployed people who do not accept a job offer and what she considered a “protected good”.

The rejection in the Bundesrat was foreseeable, since without the participation of the Christian Democrats in the government, the states would not have the required majority of 35 of the 69 votes in the state chamber.

Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) in the Federal Council rejected the Christian Democrats’ concerns about civilian income and campaigned for support. The federal government will convene the conciliation commission of the Bundestag and the federal government on Monday.

The goal is to reach an agreement by the next regular meeting of the Federal Council on November 25. The legislative process should be completed by the end of November, so that the law can enter into force on January 1, 2023, according to Heil.

The “Hartz IV” aid was introduced in 2005 by the then red-green federal government under Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD). They are named after the former VW manager and adviser to the Chancellor, Peter Hartz. At that time, unemployment benefits were combined with social assistance to form the new “Unemployment Benefit 2”. For many aid recipients this meant a huge decline. “Hartz IV” is considered one of the reasons for Schröder’s defeat in the 2005 federal election and the strengthening of the Left Party in Germany at the time.

When the ‘Hartz IV’ was introduced, the conciliation committee also had to be called in because red-green did not have a majority in the state chamber. This enabled the then Christian Democratic opposition to push through some of its own ideas. (cpfsda/dpa)