Berlin
Since the beginning of the year, recipients of citizen’s income have received around 50 euros more. In 2024, the standard rate could increase further. Then how high it will be.
Since the beginning of the year, the basic income has replaced unemployment benefit II, also known as Hartz IV. Since January, entitled single people have received up to 502 euros a month from the state. This amount is expected to increase again from 2024. Because when calculating the future rulesets the currently high inflation should be taken into account.
This averaged 7.9 percent in 2022 and could remain at a high level until the end of the year. “On the basis of this year’s autumn projection 2022 by the federal government and against the background of the existing uncertainties regarding future price developments, on January 1, 2024 an increase in standard requirement levels expected to be around six to eight percent,” says a report by the federal government. On average, the government wants to increase the standard rates for 2024 by seven percent.
Increase in citizen income: This is how much money recipients could receive from 2024
This means: From 2024, the citizen’s income is expected 537 instead of 502 euros per month be. Married couples should then receive 966 instead of 902 euros and children at least 340 euros. For children up to the age of 14 there is currently an amount between 318 and 348 euros per month.
The current rule rates and the possible increase
- Single adults: 502 euros (+35 euros)
- Married and non-married couples per person: 451 euros (+32 euros)
- Adults in institutions (according to SGB XII): 402 euros (+28 euros)
- Young adults under 25, living with their parents and not working: 402 euros (+28 euros)
- Young people from 14 to 18 years: 420 euros (+29 euros)
- Children from 6 to 14 years: 348 euros (+24 euros)
- Children from 0 to 5 years: 318 euros (+22 euros)
However, it is not only inflation that is decisive for the amount of money. The standard rates are collected with the help of the data from the sample income and consumption survey (EVS). For this, private households throughout Europe are over their income as well as the level and composition of consumer spending. The results are then combined with all sorts of data to determine an amount that should secure the subsistence level. In Germany, 0.2 percent of all private households take part in the survey on a voluntary basis. The next one is already taking place and will run until December 2023.
Criticism of the standard rates comes from social organizations. The social association Germany criticizes that the standard rate and the future increase are too low despite the adjustments. 53 euros more per month would not be enough to get people out of poverty and their hardships. The recipients of the citizen money despite an increase in the standard rates for a single adult from 449 to 502 euros, “actually not more but less purchasing power was available”.
Caritas President Eva Maria Welskop-Deffaa also said that the inflation rates, which have been unusually high for months, meant that the increases in benefits decided by the Citizens’ Income Act price increases would be eaten up immediately. You have to work on their basis. Otherwise we will create even more poverty. (kat/lro/epd)
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