Social benefits, yes, but under what conditions? Citizens’ money is not fair enough for the Christian Democrats. Now a suggestion is circulating that shows how things can be done better.
According to a report, the CDU wants to abolish citizens’ money in its current form and replace it with a “new basic security”. The party executive board will decide on a concept on Monday that includes significant changes to the current system, the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” and the “Spiegel” reported on Friday. Basic security is not available to everyone, but is a support for those who cannot make a living through their own work or assets. The name “citizen’s money” is therefore misleading.
The draft therefore states: “Everyone in our country can rely on being helped when they need help.” Good social policy makes a society strong and resilient. It helps ensure that everyone can contribute their talents and skills.
Poorly implemented social policy has exactly the opposite effect: it supports and paralyzes people. It frustrates the hardworking and thus weakens the willingness to show solidarity, and is ultimately inefficient and expensive. The traffic light coalition is making “bad social policy,” is the accusation.
Anyone who refuses should not be supported
“The vast majority of people on basic security want to work and are trying to leave the system,” the newspapers quoted from the draft. “We need to better support these people who really need our help.” A minority that doesn’t follow the rules or takes advantage of them brings “the entire system into disrepute.” That’s why the CDU is calling for a series of changes – starting with the name.
In addition, the sanction options should be significantly expanded; Sanctions should be enforced “quicker, simpler and less bureaucratic”. If a recipient of basic security who is able to work refuses reasonable work without an objective reason, in the future it should be “assumed that he is not in need – there is then no longer any entitlement to basic security,” the concept continues. But the CDU wants to ensure that “the children and partners do not suffer from the behavior of total objectors.”
The CDU also wants to tighten the obligations to cooperate. In the future, anyone who “repeatedly fails to show up for appointments at the job center without an objective reason” will no longer receive any benefits. According to the report, the withheld benefits will only be paid out “when the conversation is resumed.” If there has been no contact with the job center “after three months, it should be assumed that there is no longer any need for assistance.”
Citizens’ money is also a question of wealth
The asset regulations should also be tightened. “Solidarity only for those who really need help,” quoted the “SZ” from the draft. The CDU wants to abolish the waiting period of twelve months and in future carry out an asset check from the first day of basic security.
In addition, the limits for so-called protective assets should be lowered and the amount of protective assets should be made dependent on the number of years of work. The abuse of benefits should be better combated through “a complete exchange of data between the social, financial and security authorities”.
The CDU is also calling for a reform of the additional earnings limits in order to increase the financial incentives to take up work. In addition, greater emphasis must be placed on “integration through work”. So far there have been too few incentives to “initially take on simple work that does not correspond to one’s own qualifications”.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
