CDU calls for “system change”
Linnemann wants compulsory work for citizens’ benefit recipients
November 13, 2023, 8:32 p.m
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From the beginning, the Union has been struggling with the Hartz IV successor, citizens’ money. Secretary General Linnemann now wants to increase the pressure on recipients. Everyone who can work should have to take a job or do charitable work after six months at the latest.
The CDU wants to require those who are able to work and receive citizens’ benefit to work after six months at the latest. The welfare state must be “there for those who are really in need and cannot work,” said CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. That’s why there needs to be a “system change” in citizen’s money with “more incentives for taking up jobs”.
In the future, “everyone who can work and receives social benefits must take a job or work for a non-profit organization after six months at the latest,” said the Christian Democrat. “If you don’t want to work, you don’t have to – but then you can’t expect the general public to pay for your living expenses.” The state owes this “to all those who go to work every day and thereby make the state’s social benefits possible for others,” Linnemann continued.
He accused the traffic light coalition of having “unfortunately largely abolished” the system of incentives to take up work. For example, “the cooperation agreements between citizens’ benefit recipients and the state are not binding.”
Linnemann said that the CDU wanted to “anchor” the demand for a system change for citizens’ money in its new basic program. The general secretary is also chairman of his party’s policy program commission.
Citizens’ money has been available since January 1st. It replaced unemployment benefit II – colloquially known as Hartz IV. After lengthy negotiations, Union-governed states also approved the law in the Bundesrat. The citizen’s allowance is currently 502 euros. On January 1st it will rise to 563 euros.