Truth about Hamburg's citizen's money: surprising numbers!

Truth about Hamburg's citizen's money: surprising numbers!

The debate about citizens' money in Hamburg is diverse and often characterized by misunderstandings. A current evaluation by the Hamburg Employment Agency has now provided important data on those who receive citizen's benefit in the Hanseatic city, which is worth taking a closer look at. In particular, the new regulations adopted by the Federal Cabinet aim to tighten the sanctions for those receiving civil benefit and to clear up misunderstandings in public perception.

With the new regulations, a 30 percent reduction in citizen's benefit will be due for three months if applicants refuse a reasonable job, training or measure without a good reason. In connection with this, more precise sanctions will be provided for missed appointments in doctors' practices or job centers. These changes are seen by many as a necessary measure to strengthen the ability of recipients to integrate into the labor market.

Statistical insights into those receiving citizen's benefit

In Hamburg the number of citizens' benefit recipients is 198,714 people. A notable proportion of 99,018 of these recipients have foreign nationality, meaning that almost 50 percent of recipients come from abroad. For comparison: Only around 20.7 percent of Hamburg's population have a foreign passport. This disproportionate share of foreigners among those receiving citizenship benefits raises questions, especially in the political debate, where it is often assumed that this group shows less interest in taking up work.

Haiko Hörnicke, head of the migration department at Diakonie Hamburg, offers a different perspective. According to Hörnicke, the lack of language skills and the limited availability of language courses are key stumbling blocks for many migrants waiting to start work. He also emphasizes that many refugees from Ukraine who can quickly receive citizen's benefit could not be integrated into working life immediately due to the current situation.

The actual circumstances of those receiving citizen's benefit are more complex than is often portrayed. Among the 137,796 employable people recognized by the employment agency, there are numerous people who are not available for the labor market. For example, over 9,300 recipients look after sick relatives or children. This suggests that many people who are considered “employable” are, for various reasons, unable to seek or accept work.

The controversial term “total objector”

Often referred to as “total refusers” in the media and by various political representatives, there is considerable publicity about the supposedly numerous recipients of citizens' benefit who avoid any form of work and education. CDU politicians speak of hundreds of thousands, but in practice the employment agency only recorded 832 sanctions in Hamburg last year due to a refusal to accept a job or take part in further training. This is in stark contrast to the 13,635 penalties levied due to missed appointments.

The Viennese debate about the objectors often remains on the surface and ignores the diverse realities of the recipients' lives and the structural hurdles that hinder their integration into the labor market. Therefore, it is important to look at the comprehensive background and statistics to get an honest picture of reality. For a more in-depth analysis of the circumstances and current developments, more than just a superficial look is necessary.

The statistics and reports from the Hamburg Employment Agency invite you to question the existing rhetoric. A careful approach to the topic could promote a nuanced discussion and clarify misunderstandings that are widespread among the public. The proven expertise of Diakonie and other social institutions could help to obtain a clearer picture of the challenges and opportunities for those receiving citizens' benefit.

If you want to understand the deep reasons for receiving citizen's benefit, you have to deal with the reality, which has little to do with the common cliché of a lazy welfare recipient. Instead, the surveys show that many migrants are willing to work hard, although with limited resources. For more information on this, the publications of the Hamburg Employment Agency are available according to information from www.welt.de.