Newly sparked debate - Despite budget crisis: traffic lights stick to citizen's income increase, assures government spokesman
Despite the budget crisis, the German government is sticking to the planned significant increase in the citizens' allowance at the beginning of 2024. "I am not aware of any plans within the federal government to change the legal basis," said government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit in Berlin on Monday. The citizens' income is set to increase by an average of 12 percent on January 1, 2024. An increase of 61 euros to 563 euros is planned for single people. Hebestreit clarified: "Everything that would have to be changed now would have to be done on a statutory basis." However, there are currently no plans for this.
The renewed discussion about the citizen's income was sparked by the government's current budget crisis. If the 2024 federal budget is to be passed this year, the SPD, FDP and Greens will soon have to agree on the future course.
The coalition party FDP and the opposition CDU/CSU had therefore called for the planned increase in social benefits at the turn of the year to be canceled. They justified this on the one hand with the savings constraints in the 2024 budget and on the other hand with the fact that the increase in rates by twelve percent was based on an inflation expectation, which, however, did not occur at the predicted level.
Heil joins the citizens' income debate
Criticism of these demands has come from Federal Minister of Social Affairs Hubertus Heil, among others. The SPD politician criticized it as "morally irresponsible and incompatible with the constitution to deny these people an adjustment of the standard rates". The statements "made by various conservative politicians are not a contribution to the solution, but are poisoning the social climate", he explained.
Heil declared: "Germany is and will remain a social constitutional state." Decency, solidarity and charity are a strength of our society. "With the citizen's income, we get people into work and at the same time secure the livelihood of people who are in need and need our help."
As examples, the Minister cited people with chronic illnesses and disabilities, single parents, children and young people as well as "hard-working employees who top up their wages to make ends meet".
Budget crisis triggers renewed debate
In contrast to previous adjustments to the standard rates, inflation, which has risen sharply over the months, was taken more into account in the calculation for 2024 due to a change in the rules. According to Secretary General Carsten Linnemann, the CDU wants to significantly reduce the Citizen's Income for young adults who are able to work if it comes to power.
The amount of the citizen's income is based on a so-called price index relevant to regular needs. Among other things, it takes into account expenses for food, household electricity, housing and public transport.
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Source: www.stern.de
