The German social association VdK welcomes the commission’s proposals for a social‑state reform, calling the draft “important and right‑called approaches”. VdK president Verena Bentele told the “Rheinische Post” that “people should have easier access to the benefits they are entitled to through more digitalisation or local support – this is long overdue. The social‑state jungle must be lit up”.
She added that the implementation must “none the less not come at the expense of the beneficiaries”. Bentele warned that the planned consolidation of benefits without raising expenditures raises “legitimate concerns about potential cuts to housing costs. Such reductions would disproportionately burden low‑income individuals and are therefore unacceptable”. She stressed the need for “strong social protection and, ultimately, powerful and equitably financed social insurance”.
Ifo economist Andreas Peichl praised the commission’s report, saying to “Handelsblatt”: “It is overall bolder than expected-even though many implementation details are still open”. He added, “There might be a little more at a few points, but overall I am optimistic”. Peichl urged the federal government to turn the report into a “reasonable draft law” noting that “many levers will need fine‑tuning, and the details will determine whether the reform becomes a genuine breakthrough”.
The commission has taken up all of the experts’ core demands: a merger of social benefits, digitisation of administration, improved labour incentives, legal simplifications, and standardisation.