Less sanctions against Hartz IV recipients

In the past year, there were approximately 49 000 sanctions less against Hartz IV recipients than in the previous year, the sanction rate. The penalties for unemployed people who miss appointments or job offers to reject, were last heated argument in the coalition government. the

The number of sanctions against Hartz IV recipients has decreased in the past year, to 904 000. The were around 49 000 less than in 2017, as the Federal employment Agency announced on Wednesday.

recipients of unemployment benefit II are not able to be deleted, the funds, if you accept, for example, job offers or appointments missed. Particularly controversial are the sanctions for the unemployed are under 25. You the Jobcenter can delete the first major violation of the complete medium. Only the cost of rent and food vouchers to stay still, in the case of other violations, these will also be reduced.

Per month imposed sanctions against about three per cent of the beneficiaries. With 77 per cent, a majority of the sanctions attributable to reporting omissions, so, for example, missed appointments without a good reason. Overall, the Jobcenter of languages in the last year, with 441 000 people a minimum of a sanction. More than 90 percent of the Hartz-IV recipients are not affected according to the figures of the penalties.

the SPD wants a "citizens ' money" instead of Hartz IV

The sanctions will also lead to the unemployed to work faster. But critics say, you achieve the opposite - namely, demotivated people, the feel set by the job centre under pressure. Currently, a procedure in which the judge is to decide whether or not Hartz IV recipients, the benefits may not be reduced at all drastically runs in front of the Federal constitutional court.

In the Grand coalition there was in the past few months the dispute over these sanctions. The SPD wants to reform Hartz IV, and the reason for replacing the fuse by a "citizens ' money". This should be similar to the current Hartz-IV-sets, but differently structured. The unemployed should get more promotion, and not so quickly sanctioned. The stricter sanctions for the under-25-Year-old wants to abolish the SPD completely, as well as the reduction of money for housing and Heating costs. The Union had existed for these plans at the beginning of the year, in some cases severe criticism. CDU Vice Volker Bouffier said at the time: "The SPD is planning the funeral of a social market economy." Because the Union won't do it.