There are many crises and no relief in sight. This is especially true for the less well-off. What will change for you with the new citizenship allowance from January?
At the moment everyone is talking about it: people with little money are the ones who suffer the most from the current crises. Will the new citizenship allowance, which has been significantly reduced – most recently due to objections from the CDU – change your situation fundamentally since January? Many who see only minimal improvements doubt it, including the Parittische Welfare Association or Verdi president Frank Wernecke. How many people are affected by these regulations in Freiburg?
Increase the number of needy
A comparison with the status of a year ago shows: according to data provided by Hanspeter Fakler, spokesman for the Freiburg Employment Agency, and municipal press spokesman Sebastian Wolfrum, slightly more Freiburg residents are now on the dole (Alg) II or – due to old age and illness – dependent on basic security. According to this, 15,582 people live in 8031 ”needy communities” with Alg II – in 2021 there were 15,214 people in 8016 “needy communities”. And while in 2021 there were still 5,159 children and young people under the age of 18, there are currently 5,321. Of the 10,261 Alg II beneficiaries over the age of 18, 2,653 – almost a quarter – have a job, but earn too little, so that they have to “reload” with the Alg II. Most of them work part-time, but there are also 265 people with full-time jobs.
The number of asylum seekers is decreasing
This year is something special compared to previous years: 1,211 of Unemployment II recipients are refugees from Ukraine. People from other countries who have applied for asylum do not fall into this group: they receive significantly lower benefits under the Asylum Seeker Benefits Act.
Action BZ Christmas Greetings
donation account Sparkasse Freiburg-Nordlicher Breisgau, IBAN: DE77680501010002399506, BIC: FRSPDE66XXX. Keyword “Christmas greetings campaign”. Targeted donations are not possible, everything goes into one pot, from which grants are then distributed.
The number of these asylum seekers has decreased: in 2021 there were 769 people, currently there are only 625. In contrast to the Alg II beneficiaries, for whom the current monthly sum is 449 euros for individuals, they get only 367 euros. All those who depend on basic security due to old age or disability are financially equal to the beneficiaries of Alg II: this year they are 4064 people, in 2021 they were 3913. Here too 270 refugees from Ukraine play a role, they are in 235 “needy communities” Life.
The rates for partners and children are also increasing
All those living with Alg II or basic security will soon receive the new citizenship allowance. Then the ordinary tariff will go from 449 euros for single people to 502 euros per month – plus rent and heating costs, provided that the “adequacy criteria” are met, for example as regards the size of the apartment, but not for electricity. The relatively lower rates for partners and children of affected families are also increasing: Partners will soon receive 451 euros and parents will receive between 318 and 420 euros for children, depending on the age of the children. So far the amount for partners is 404 euros, for children between 285 and 376 euros.
Help from the Christmas Wish Campaign
Isn’t that just an adjustment for inflation? This is the criticism of those who had promised more money than citizenship, above all because the previous rules on sanctions and savings are largely maintained due to pressure from the CDU. Critics find it good that more emphasis will be placed on qualification in the future. But this is only aimed at those who are still able to work. Of those who sought help from the BZ Christmas Wish campaign last year, 44% were dependent on basic safety due to age or illness.
