The governing coalition’s citizen’s allowance program has faced persistent scrutiny, particularly from opposition parties, prompting a robust defense from SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf.
In an interview with “Welt” television, Klüssendorf expressed frustration that the reform had not been successfully framed as a matter of fairness and qualification. He argued that the public perception had become skewed, leading to the allowance being mischaracterized as an overly generous social safety net, a portrayal he refuted as inaccurate.
While acknowledging instances of abuse related to undeclared work, Klüssendorf emphasized that these represent a small fraction of the overall picture. He highlighted the significant portion of recipients who are actively seeking employment – termed “supplementers” – as well as the inclusion of single parents and children who still face labor challenges. He suggested that the focus on the final few euros of the allowance is misguided, asserting that a more equitable system requires a broader approach.
Klüssendorf reacted cautiously to remarks from CDU leader Friedrich Merz concerning excessive housing allowance payments within the citizen’s allowance program and comments from Minister for the Chancellery, Thorsten Frei, regarding stricter affordability rules. Responding to Merz’s criticism of housing allowances averaging 20 euros per square meter, Klüssendorf stressed that such portrayals fail to reflect the reality for many recipients, fostering a distorted perception of the program’s beneficiaries.
He also voiced skepticism regarding Minister Frei’s announced intention to modify affordability rules for citizen’s allowance recipients, questioning the practical implications. Klüssendorf used the hypothetical example of forcing residents to commute long distances to find suitable housing in order to fulfill arbitrary requirements, suggesting such measures would be counterproductive and fail to address the underlying issues.