Meretz and Bass push for strict penalties on citizen assistance – Experts warn: "Unconstitutional"
The German government is preparing a controversial reform of the Bürgergeld (citizen's allowance) system, which may impose stricter penalties on recipients of social assistance. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) support the plan, but social associations and legal experts warn that some proposals may violate constitutional guarantees.
The essence of the reform lies in a penalty system that allows for a reduction of benefits by up to 30 percent for three months if beneficiaries fail to meet their obligations, such as attending work appointments. For single individuals, this means a loss of 169 euros per month. Critics argue that these reductions target the minimum necessary for survival. Michaela Engelmayer, head of the SoVD organization, said: "This is really painful – people will first have to cut back on their participation in social life."
Social associations warn that the government is pushing the most vulnerable to the margins. Accounts show that single individuals already have only 55 euros per month for entertainment or social participation. With the proposed reform, they will need to save an additional 114 euros from their other expenses to avoid falling into debt. Inglemire described this as an impossible burden that increases social isolation.
The strongest criticisms focus on the proposal to cut all assistance for those who repeatedly refuse job offers. Verena Bentele, president of the VdK organization, confirmed that the complete cancellation of support "would not be constitutionally possible." She referred to the Federal Constitutional Court ruling in 2019, which stated that some reductions in assistance are legal, but they must not exceed 30 percent. Any additional reduction would violate the right to a decent standard of living guaranteed by the German Basic Law.
Research also raises doubts about the effectiveness of harsher penalties. Studies conducted by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) have shown that while penalties may initially increase employment chances by up to 20 percent, this effect fades over time. After four years, individuals who faced penalties were less likely to be employed compared to those who were not penalized. Furthermore, when they did find work, it was mostly low-paying and unstable jobs, and they left them quickly.
The proposed reform has sparked widespread debate in Germany. While the government insists that stricter rules are necessary to push people into the labor market, critics argue that it undermines social rights, risks exacerbating poverty, and ignores the long-term consequences for employment and integration.