Job center reform: Stricter rules for 5.5 million citizens' benefit recipients!

Job center reform: Stricter rules for 5.5 million citizens' benefit recipients!

The discussion about citizens' money is gaining momentum. Peter Schmiedel, deputy head of the job center in the Bergstrasse district, has clear ideas about the future changes. “We’re finally getting the objectors to the table,” he said optimistically in an interview Focus. Schmiedel and his team look after around 15,000 people, 10,000 of whom are of working age. In his opinion, the sanctions for non-compliance with deadlines have so far been too lax. This clear criticism is incorporated into the federal government's planned reform, which wants to rename citizens' money as basic security and tighten the regulations.

A problem for job centers is the often frustrating behavior of clients. Schmiedel observes that many benefit recipients do not show up for appointments despite repeated requests. This not only leads to dissatisfaction among employees, but also to a feeling of powerlessness. “You can ask people to appear in person,” he emphasizes. So far, many clients have found a deduction of 56.30 euros for unexcused appointments not to be enough of a deterrent.

Citizens' money and new challenges

Citizens' money, which replaced basic security in 2023, was hotly debated by several political parties, including the Union parties. The reform abolished placement priority, meaning job centers are no longer obliged to make the first offer to every job seeker. This represents a fundamental change as they are now increasingly focused on qualifications and further training. Schmiedel sees the planned changes as an opportunity to strengthen clients' personal responsibility.

Frustration among case managers is high. In many cities, such as Wiesbaden and Aachen, employees report the difficulties in successfully placing long-term unemployed people. A single mother who has been receiving community benefit for four years wants to go back to work in two years, but is struggling with the hurdles of child care and language problems. The language barrier also represents an enormous obstacle for refugee clients. The managing director of the Aachen job center, Stefan Graaf, advocates tougher measures to reach people who do not show up for consultations.

The future of the social safety net

The political agreement between the CDU and SPD on the tightening measures shows that things remain exciting both when it comes to citizens' benefits and basic security. The approximately 5.5 million people who receive citizen's benefit face more stringent conditions. Under the new plan, all benefits, including accommodation assistance, will be canceled if someone misses appointments at the job center three times in a row. These reforms are being discussed in a context characterized by rising social spending: in 2023, the costs of citizens' money amounted to a whopping 42.6 billion euros, an increase of 16 percent compared to the previous year, as the Federal Agency for Civic Education reported.

Schmiedel is optimistic about the new rules, especially with regard to those who refuse appointments: “We hope that these measures will lead to people taking more responsibility again and keeping their appointments.” However, there is also skepticism that tougher sanctions could lead to a more aggressive response - a balancing act that is both social and political. The next steps in reform policy are crucial to move in the right direction while improving the situation of clients.