BZ Christmas wish campaign wants to support those in need with donations – Freiburg

More people than usual are experiencing what it feels like to be afraid for financial existence or to become unemployed this year: The consequences of the corona threaten many of their livelihoods, even if most of them are initially covered by unemployment benefit I or short-time work. Solidarity and the commitment to more justice are all the more important for all those who are in need or who live with little money even without Corona. The BZ Christmas wish campaign is a small sign in this sense.

How many people in Freiburg live with unemployment benefit II or basic security? In this Corona year, the numbers depend more than usual on the time of viewing. Most of the figures from the city administration and the employment agency come from the summer, i.e. the time before the partial lockdown from November. In the summer the situation had just started to ease again temporarily.

Compared to the previous year, the numbers increased only slightly

At that time, according to the municipal figures, 15,397 people lived in 8,522 benefit communities with Alg II, according to the figures from the Employment Agency, there were 16,170 people. The different numbers result from the respective survey time. In addition to those who are looking for work in vain, there are also their underage children and partners.

According to the Employment Agency, the number of Alg-II recipients who were themselves unemployed was 4543 in July and 4287 in October. According to the municipal figures, 5195 children and young people under 18 years of age were among the family members in the summer The employment agency’s data collection period was 5207. In addition to the Alg-II households, there are also the elderly with mini-pensions and the chronically ill who are no longer able to work: According to the city’s figures, 3919 people lived with basic security in the summer. In addition – according to the municipal figures from autumn – 973 more adults and children had to make ends meet in the asylum procedure with the subsidies of the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, which are significantly lower than those for Alg II and basic security.

Compared to the previous year, the numbers increased only slightly: At that time, 15,380 people were living with Alg II and 3,896 elderly and sick people were living with basic security. However, the number of unemployed people who are currently covered by unemployment benefit I rose very significantly as a result of Corona: 744 have been added since the beginning of the Corona crisis, which is an increase of 31.2 percent, says Hanspeter Fakler, spokesman for the Employment Agency . City press spokesman Toni Klein also emphasizes this trend.

Not all Alg II recipients are unemployed

The following also applies: Of those who need Alg II to survive, not all are unemployed. As before, the proportion of those who, despite – too little or badly paid – work cannot secure their subsistence level without help is very high. Compared to the previous year, however, the number fell from 3,099 to 2971 people in the summer. According to the city’s figures, 2,632 of them were employed and 377 were self-employed.

The fact that they have very little income is shown by a look at the amounts that ALG II and basic security recipients are entitled to in addition to taking over their rent and health insurance contributions: For individuals it is 432 euros per month (from January 446 euros), for partners 389 (then 401 ) Euro. For children, parents receive 250 (283) euros if the children are up to six years old. From the age of seven it is 308 (309) euros. For young people aged 14 and over, the amount is 328 (373) euros. Individuals who have fled the asylum procedure receive 351 euros, their partners 316 euros, and their children between 218 and 280 euros, depending on their age.