https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Germany’s highest court reached a groundbreaking decision this week when it ruled that it was “partially illegal” to penalize Hartz IV welfare recipients. We look at why critics have called to change the system since its beginnings. https://www.thelocal.de/20191107/what-you-need-to-know-about-hartz-iv-in-germany Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:46:15 +0100 what-you-need-to-know-about-hartz-iv-in-germany The co-leader of the Green Party, Robert Habeck, has proposed an alternative to Germany’s controversial welfare benefits system, Hartz IV. https://www.thelocal.de/20181114/the-green-party-wants-to-ditch-germanys-controversial-benefits-system-hartz-iv Wed, 14 Nov 2018 12:17:16 +0100 the-green-party-wants-to-ditch-germanys-controversial-benefits-system-hartz-iv Berlin Mayor Michael Müller has called for an end to the controversial Hartz IV welfare system, saying that every jobless Berliner should have the right to a basic income. https://www.thelocal.de/20180320/berlin-mayor-backs-basic-income-to-tackle-capitals-unemployment Tue, 20 Mar 2018 10:49:02 +0100 berlin-mayor-backs-basic-income-to-tackle-capitals-unemployment The outspoken Christian Democrat politician Jens Spahn told a newspaper on Saturday that Germany was a country without poverty thanks to its "Hartz IV" social security payments. Critics called his comments “cold-hearted and aloof.” https://www.thelocal.de/20180312/no-one-in-germany-would-go-hungry-if-food-banks-didnt-exist Mon, 12 Mar 2018 11:58:10 +0100 no-one-in-germany-would-go-hungry-if-food-banks-didnt-exist The German government wants to stop citizens of other EU countries, particularly from eastern Europe, from moving to Germany just for its benefits. https://www.thelocal.de/20161007/germany-moves-forward-on-plan-to-block-eu-citizens-from-welfare-for-5-years Fri, 07 Oct 2016 19:14:53 +0200 germany-moves-forward-on-plan-to-block-eu-citizens-from-welfare-for-5-years Despite steady growth in the economy and record low unemployment figures, child poverty is on the rise in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20160912/more-children-living-in-poverty-despite-economic-growth Mon, 12 Sep 2016 14:17:07 +0200 more-children-living-in-poverty-despite-economic-growth Children growing up in single-parent households are nearly five times more likely to depend on welfare payments, a study revealed Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.de/20160706/study-more-children-facing-poverty Wed, 06 Jul 2016 11:50:31 +0200 study-more-children-facing-poverty Child poverty is on the rise across Germany. But in the national capital and Bremen the situation is particularly severe. https://www.thelocal.de/20160531/every-third-child-in-berlin-now-dependant-on-welfare Tue, 31 May 2016 13:33:37 +0200 every-third-child-in-berlin-now-dependant-on-welfare EU citizens moving to Germany could be shut out from welfare payments for five years under a draft law seen by German media outlets on Thursday. https://www.thelocal.de/20160428/germany-to-block-eu-citizens-from-welfare-for-5-years Thu, 28 Apr 2016 13:07:20 +0200 germany-to-block-eu-citizens-from-welfare-for-5-years One-third of unemployed people in Germany are unable to afford a square meal at least once every two days, figures from the Federal Office of Statistics showed on Monday. https://www.thelocal.de/20151123/1-in-3-jobseekers-cant-afford-enough-food Mon, 23 Nov 2015 13:42:30 +0100 1-in-3-jobseekers-cant-afford-enough-food The European Court of Justice ruled on Tuesday that Germany can deny basic welfare payments to European migrants - even if they've previously had a job in the country. https://www.thelocal.de/20150915/ecj-germany-can-deny-foreigners-hartz-iv Tue, 15 Sep 2015 14:44:40 +0200 ecj-germany-can-deny-foreigners-hartz-iv Poverty levels in Germany have reached an all-time high, with 15.5 percent of the population – or 12.5 million people - affected. Single parents and unemployed people were the hardest hit, according to a report from a welfare association. https://www.thelocal.de/20150219/charity-finds-german-poverty-at-all-time-high Thu, 19 Feb 2015 17:53:55 +0100 charity-finds-german-poverty-at-all-time-high EU immigrants found abusing the German benefits system could be banned from re-entering the country for up to five years under a planned draft law. It comes as figures on Thursday showed migration to Germany has reached a 20-year high. https://www.thelocal.de/20140522/germany-plans-to-ban-benefit-fraudsters Thu, 22 May 2014 13:22:00 +0200 germany-plans-to-ban-benefit-fraudsters German authorities are inspecting bank accounts more often than ever, figures from the finance ministry showed on Friday. https://www.thelocal.de/20140425/german-state-checks-on-more-bank-accounts Fri, 25 Apr 2014 10:00:00 +0200 german-state-checks-on-more-bank-accounts The German government is planning a shake-up of the country’s unemployment benefit system, Hartz IV, by introducing stricter rules on claimants in a move which supporters say will cut bureaucracy. https://www.thelocal.de/20140423/unemployment-benefits-hartz-iv-to-be-reformed Wed, 23 Apr 2014 11:06:00 +0200 unemployment-benefits-hartz-iv-to-be-reformed EU citizens who have never worked in Germany but have been living in the country for a long time can claim unemployment benefits, a court ruled on Thursday, in a decision which could affect 130,000 foreigners in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20131011/52351 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 11:49:00 +0200 52351 Unemployment benefits are seen as a stigma in German society with a new study comparing prejudice faced by the jobless with racism in the United States. https://www.thelocal.de/20130808/51291 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 10:49:00 +0200 51291 More than one in three Germans entitled to state benefits do not apply - saving the government billions - a new study showed. Shame and not knowing they are eligible are thought to be the most likely explanations. https://www.thelocal.de/20130701/50625 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 17:19:00 +0200 50625 More Germans need state help to supplement their wages - because their jobs pay so badly they cannot pull themselves above the poverty line, figures from the Federal Employment Agency (BA) showed on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.de/20130508/49603 Wed, 08 May 2013 14:11:00 +0200 49603 People on unemployment benefits are not as lazy as many of Germans think, an official at the Federal Employment Agency said on Monday. Over two-thirds of them would love to work - and not just for the money. https://www.thelocal.de/20130415/49149 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:10:00 +0200 49149