Unemployment benefit: Linnemann: No more paying citizens’ allowance to those unwilling to work

CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann is in favor of completely cutting off citizen’s allowance for more than 100,000 people. “Statistics suggest that a six-figure number of people are fundamentally unwilling to accept a job,” Linnemann told the newspapers of the Funke media group. “If someone is fundamentally unwilling to accept a job, the state must assume that they are not in need. Benefit cuts of ten, 20 or 30 percent are not enough. Then basic security must be completely cut.”

Linnemann included Ukrainian refugees who receive citizen’s allowance. “The Ukrainians also defend our freedom. But if there is a service, it is linked to something in return. This includes taking up work.” Here, he says, there is a “clear” lack of incentives. He sees exceptions for single parents or people who care for relatives.

CDU general welcomes stricter requirements for citizen’s allowance

Citizens’ allowance is the basic security for job seekers. Separate from this is basic security in old age and in the event of incapacity for work, for example due to illness or disability.

Linnemann welcomed the federal government’s plans to tighten the rules for citizens’ allowance recipients. “I think it’s good that the traffic light coalition wants to take a first step with citizens’ allowance. But we need a fundamental change in policy – towards a new basic security,” he stressed.

The federal government wants to use stricter rules to encourage more people receiving citizen’s allowance to take up work. In future, a longer journey to work will be reasonable, refusing reasonable work will be punished with increased benefit cuts, and illegal work will also lead to cuts.