Berlin – The planned citizen income increase causes discussions. All of Germany is asking itself: is honest work still worthwhile?
“I would prefer it if the money went to programs that make it easier for us to re-enter the labor market instead. We don’t need more money, we need opportunities,” says Christian (34, unemployed) from Krefeld (NRW). “Although I’m benefiting from the increase in citizen income, I don’t think it’s justified.”
“Parental allowance should be increased”
Pierre (30) and Lydia (34) from Krefeld are also struggling with the planned increase. “I find the increase in citizen income unfair,” says the interior designer. “Because of my five-month-old daughter, I’m going on maternity leave soon. Citizens’ allowance will be increased, but our parental allowance will not. If so, then everything should be raised.”
Pierre (30) and Lydia (34) think it is unfair that the unemployed get more without increasing child benefit
Photo: Meike Wirsel
Her husband Pierre, who works as an electronics technician at Deutsche Bahn, adds: “You have to look at it this way: we are currently taking care of a member of society who will also pay taxes in the future and will not receive any more money, but others will. That’s unfair.”
“It’s not worth working anymore”
“With this increase, working is definitely no longer worthwhile. I’m a nurse and I know how hard it is to work for money. For many, the shift begins at 6 a.m., so you leave the house at 5 a.m.,” says nurse and mother of two Katja K. (38) from Hamburg. “I’m an absolutely social person, but one should rather motivate people to go to work than encourage them to ‘do nothing’. It’s just unfair for those who have to work hard every day.”
Nurse Katja (38) from Hamburg finds the increase in citizen income unfair
Photo: Sybill Schneider
“Idleness Shouldn’t Be Rewarded”
“I don’t think it’s okay with the citizen’s income. Being lazy shouldn’t be rewarded,” says pensioner Sabine Küttner (68) from Erfurt (Thuringia), who has worked for 46 years, 15 of them as a self-employed cook. And further: “I would always work, so I learned it from home and passed it on to my two children. I have never asked for government help. This is all very, very unfair.”
Sabine Küttner (68) has worked all her life and receives a pension of 1000 euros a month
Photo: Sybill Schneider
“Many say: Why should I go to work?”
“There are people who need the money. But there are also enough who say: Why should I go to work? I live quite well. If I go to work and have to pay for everything myself, there is nothing left at the end,” says Rosemarie Heinecke (68) from Mönchengladbach (NRW). “But if I get the citizen’s income, then that’s my pocket money, so I can get by with it.”
Rosemarie Heinecke (68) from Mönchengladbach believes that many will rest at the expense of the state
Photo: Fabian Matzerath for BILD
“There are people who can’t get a job”
“But there are also people who want to work – and can’t get a job,” explains her friend Irmgard Schröders (67) from Mönchengladbach. That happened to me once, I worked for 37 years, was a dental assistant. I used to live on Hartz IV myself and I have to say that I got by with it. But there was nothing more than living and eating in it.”
Irmgard Schröders (67) thinks that many want to work but cannot find a job
Photo: Fabian Matzerath for BILD
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“The citizen’s income is not enough”
“I don’t think that the basic income is sufficient at the moment given the high cost of living,” reports Stefan C. (40) from Ludwigshafen (Rhineland-Palatinate). He used to be unemployed and now earns 3,000 euros net as a chemical technician. C.: “I was a HartzIV recipient myself and had to make do with less than 800 euros. You live by yourself, you can’t plan any trips and you can’t fulfill any wishes. It’s definitely worth working on there!”
Used to be unemployed himself: Chemikant Stefan C. (40) from Ludwigshafen
Photo: Sybill Schneider
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