- Many borrowers have to pay rent
Every seventh recipient of unemployment benefit in Lower Saxony and every thirteenth in Bremen did not receive full coverage of their housing costs last year. This is shown in an answer from the Federal Government to a question from the Left group in the Bundestag.
In both federal states, they had to contribute more from their own pockets than the national average: the so-called housing cost gap was around 103 euros nationwide, 107 euros in Lower Saxony and 105 euros in Bremen.
Criticism of benchmark values
The costs for rent and heating are covered by the state for unemployment benefit recipients, but only if the apartment is considered reasonable. Living space and rent height are set by the municipalities according to regionally different benchmark values.
The set rent limits are considered unrealistic by many social associations, as affected persons often have no possibility to find a cheaper apartment. Then, the money that should additionally flow into the apartment from unemployment benefit is missing for the purchase of food, clothing or education expenses.
Lower Saxony particularly affected
The highest proportion of households that have to pay for housing with unemployment benefit was in Rhineland-Palatinate (17 percent), Baden-Württemberg (15 percent), Saarland (14.5 percent) and Lower Saxony (14 percent). In Bremen, the proportion was 7.7 percent.
The Left MP Heidi Reichinnek from Osnabrück criticized that the housing cost gap had become even larger despite the introduction of a waiting period last year. For new unemployment benefit recipients, the cold rent is not checked for reasonableness for one year, but is fully covered.
Higher cost limits demanded
Long-term recipients such as single parents, caring relatives and top-up recipients have been left alone and still have to make up the shortfall from the standard rate, said Reichinnek. "I find that intolerable." The cost limits must be increased so that rent and heating costs can be paid.
The Federal Parliament should consider the criticism raised by social associations and political figures like Heidi Reichinnek, who believe that the current set rent limits are unrealistic and lead to beneficiaries unable to afford essential expenses like food and clothing. The unaffordable housing cost gaps, especially in Lower Saxony, need to be addressed by increasing the cost limits set by the municipalities.
