Germany’s jobless benefits rising to €563 a month

 

BERLIN – Benefits for the out-of-work in Germany are set to rise to €563 ($609) a month in 2024 from the current €502 for single adults, Labour Minister Hubertus Heil said on Tuesday.

This is an increase of about 12%, the minister pointed out, affecting around 5 million people in the country.

“Especially in times of crisis and upheaval, one must be able to rely on the welfare state,” Heil said.

In January, the coalition government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’ Social Democrats (SPD), the Green Party and the Free Democrats (FDP) introduced a major social welfare reform – replacing the Hartz IV benefits programme for the long-term jobless that had been in place since 2005.

Under the Bürgergeld (citizen’s money) system, adjustments for inflation can be implemented much faster than before. It also aims to provide better vocational training for the unemployed. Benefits for people with children are also set to increase.

For young people from the age of 15 to under 18, benefits will rise from €420 to €471 in 2024. For children aged 7 until 14, an increase is planned of €348 to €390, and for children up to the age of 6 from €318 to €357.