Government savings plans: Families and Pensioners in the pliers!

Government savings plans: Families and Pensioners in the pliers!

Vienna, Österreich - The planned savings of the federal government ensure sharp criticism from various interest groups. Families, pensioners and sports are particularly affected, all of whom have to expect massive financial cuts. According to a report by vienna.at warns the poverty conference from "cumulation" of stress for the lower income. Martin Schenk, spokesman for the poverty conference, calls concrete incisions, including the elimination of the climate monus and the expires of the electricity price brake.

The Catholic Family Association also expresses concerns and criticizes the exposure of the indexing of family services. President Peter Mender recently handed over a petition with over 7,000 signatures to National Council President Walter Rosenkranz. Pensioners are also seriously affected: The Pensioners' Association (PVÖ) criticizes the introduction of an e-card fee and demands that this fee for all retired people. In addition, there are increased health insurance contributions and other financial burdens such as higher fees for passports.

additional loads for the older

The situation for older people is difficult by various measures. According to the Pensioners' Association, the pensioner association threatens additional burdens due to the end of free patient transport and the deletion of the climate monus. Helmut Bieler, interim president of the PVÖ, draws attention to the need to avoid these additional fees because they would severely impair the quality of life of many older people.

In the discussion about the financial security of socially weaker groups, there are also debates about citizenship money in Germany. Single adults currently receive 502 euros per month, and from 2024 this amount is to increase to 563 euros. However, critics such as Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer sprinkle concerns about the financial effects of this increase, which would cost the state almost 4.5 billion euros. Discussions about the financial expenditure are on the agenda, especially in view of the clammy health insurers in the federal budget, such as Br24 reported.

causes of inequality

Social and economic inequality in Germany is increasing. The Gini coefficient, a measure of income distribution, shows an increase from 0.28 (2010) to 0.31 (2021). In 2021, 17.8% of the population lived below the poverty border. The unemployed, women, single parents and people with immigration history, such as Böckler Foundation

social tensions and a threatening division of society are the consequences of these developments. The increase in poverty rate and the increase in strict poverty, which has increased from 7.8% to 11.3%, show that there is an urgent need for action. The citizens want stronger government interventions against social inequality.

The voices from different camps make it clear that the social situation continues to be tense without immediate measures to combat poverty and to improve social security. In view of the impending burdens for socially weaker groups and the precaration of the standard of living and social infrastructure, basic reforms are necessary.