Those who receive citizen’s allowance also receive support with rent and heating. But this is often not enough, especially for families, because the costs exceed the set limits.
Hundreds of thousands of people receiving citizen’s allowance have to pay extra for rent and heating costs because their housing is not considered adequate. Last year, this affected around one in nine households receiving citizen’s allowance, according to the federal government’s response to a query from the Left Party group in the Bundestag. On average, they had to pay 103 euros out of their own pocket every month.
Housing costs, i.e. rent and heating costs, are supposed to be covered by the state for people receiving citizen’s allowance. But this only applies if they are assessed as reasonable. To do this, the rent and apartment size must not exceed certain regionally determined guidelines. Anyone who lives in an apartment that is too big is asked to move or, for example, sublet a room.
Social associations: Rent limits unrealistic in many places
Social associations have long criticized the fact that the rent limits set in many places are unrealistic. Those affected often have no chance at all of finding a cheaper apartment. This means they have to pay ever higher amounts – and the money is then missing for food, clothing and education. “Anyone who can even get an apartment in the inner city on the citizens’ allowance is paying more and saving for it out of their own pocket,” said Left Party MP Caren Lay to the German Press Agency.
According to the Ministry of Labor, last year almost 320,000 households on citizen’s allowance did not receive their full housing costs reimbursed. On average, they had to pay around 111 euros per month in rent themselves – more than a fifth of the costs. Those who had to pay extra for heating paid around 55 euros per month out of their own pocket. Households with children had to pay a particularly high price – an average of around 124 euros per month.
Highest co-payments in Berlin
There are large regional differences. The proportion of citizens’ allowance households with additional payments was most recently in Rhineland-Palatinate (17 percent), followed by Baden-Württemberg (15 percent), Saarland (14.5 percent) and Lower Saxony (14 percent). Citizens’ allowance recipients were least likely to have to pay extra in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Bremen, where there are still comparatively many affordable apartments.
The highest co-payments were made by households in Berlin who were on citizen’s allowance. They had to pay an average of almost 160 euros out of their own pocket every month and were thus left with more than a fifth of their housing costs.
Despite the introduction of a grace period, the housing cost gap has grown even larger in the last year, complained Left Party MP Heidi Reichinnek. Since the launch of the Citizen’s Allowance, the basic rent of new recipients has not been checked for adequacy for a year, but is always paid in full.
Long-term recipients, however, including many single parents, carers and those on benefits, are left alone, said Reichinnek. “They still have to make up the shortfall from the standard rate, which is actually intended for food and clothing. I find that intolerable.” The cost limits must be increased so much that an apartment can be rented and heated with it.
Federal Employment Agency for housing cost reimbursement
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.
