Hanover: Consider the new citizen’s money

Hanover. The washing machine was a problem. When this broke out some time ago, a large mountain of unwashed laundry quickly piled up in the family’s home of seven. You can literally watch the problem grow daily. Then one of the church institutions helped Jan and Ina Meyer (name changed) unbureaucratically. “We couldn’t have afforded a new washing machine on our own,” says the 38-year-old.

The Meyer family lives in a rural area somewhere in the Hanover region. Older row house, 140 sqm for father, mother and five children. The eldest son is 20 years old, and the youngest daughter is about two years old. “We are well known in our neighborhood,” confirms Jan Meyer, “our children have something good here in town.”

The walls of the elegant home are decorated with family photos and there is a wreath on the table. “Christmas decorations used to be cheap at discount stores,” says Ina Meier. She’s not saying that out of pride in a deal. She says it almost with a guilty conscience that she afforded herself such a luxury. Her house may only have cheap Christmas decorations — or none at all.

Although for work, this is not enough

The Meyer family lives on government support. As a young man, Jan Mayer began an apprenticeship in commerce, but dropped out. Since then, he has often worked small jobs, mostly for short periods of time. He worked in the warehouse, lost his job for the summer. Now he sometimes delivers groceries. “In the past few years, we’ve had Hartz IV’s most of the time,” says the 49-year-old. “If you have a big family without an apprenticeship, you won’t get enough money with work.”

Financially, things are tight for them: The Meyers are hoping the new basic income will bring some relief.

© Source: Simon Penny

The Argument over the income of the new citizens who should replace Hartz IVNot just any topic of news for Myers. It has an existential relationship to everyday life. Just like inflation, which gives them a hard time.

Ina Meier calculates how things are going for you financially: after deducting fixed costs, a year ago she had a budget of around 600 euros for her monthly grocery purchase. “It was fine,” she says. However, in light of inflation, a family of seven now needs more than 800 euros to feed.

Every euro helps us.

“We work without much,” says the mother. “If the price of cheese that children love to eat is now 3.49 euros, we can no longer buy three packs, but only one.” If this is on sale, buy them four pots at once. Constantly compare specials. It stores. She does not buy children’s shoes or jackets when they are needed, but when there are discount offers on them.

The Myers are hoping for real relief from the newcomer’s income – the planned increase in standard rates in particular gives them hope: “Nobody should think we’ll be rich now,” says the father, “but every extra euro in the family budget really helps us.” “.

critical Voices complain that higher social benefits could prevent those affected from going to work. The Mayer family sees it in a completely different light: “We need help, even if we go to work,” says the mother. She herself always tries to increase her budget a little and earn something extra.

“The state may ask for something”

Recently she was sick. But when she was recently offered a job on the basis of €520, she didn’t think twice and snapped at it immediately – even though part of the income is credited to Hartz IV and disappears back on the spot: “I’m satisfied if the end result is an extra €200.”

However, she finds it unfair that the income of the children—the eldest son is now in an apprenticeship—is included in the calculation of Hartz IV. The mother says, “We have to take some money from him.” “Children from poor families are consequently disadvantaged from the very beginning of their careers.” She hopes the new Citizen’s Allowance will change something for her in that regard, too.

that The state can impose penalties on the beneficiaries, However, Meyer’s family believes he is fine. “If a person gives me money, then it is quite justified for him to ask for something in return,” says Jan Meyer.