The job center has the right to deny benefits to recipients of Hartz IV benefits. By contrast, in 2018 thousands of people resisted – and often with success.
Recipients of Hartz IV can often defend themselves against it, if the Jobcenter deletes the achievements. The Federal Government’s response to a request from the left-wing group showed that last year almost every second objection or every second lawsuit against performance denials was successful.
In the government response, the cases are recorded in which the unemployed had been completely revoked the entitlement to Hartz IV, because, for example, those concerned could submit any reports that certify them incapacity for work.
46 percent of all contradictions successful
According to this, about 17,700 people objected to the decision of the Job Center in 2018 – in 8100 cases they were successful. A rate of 46 percent. In the 1,200 lawsuits against the complete rejection of Hartz IV benefits were 500 plaintiffs right and thus 42 percent. Either a court decided in their favor or the job center directed by itself.
The leader of the Left Party, Katja Kipping, warned that the loss of benefits would hit the very people who were already „living from hand to mouth“. They threatened to slip into a „debt spiral with devastating consequences“. Therefore, Kipping also called for a re-examination of the so-called duty of co-operation of Hartz IV recipients.
Recipients must „cooperate“ comply
If unemployed persons violate this „obligation to cooperate“ from the point of view of the job center, they can be reduced the Hartz IV reference. Last year, more than 900,000 beneficiaries were cut in grants.
For example, if sufferers fail to make an appointment with the Job Center, the rule rate can be cut by ten percent over three months. If a jobseeker declines to make a „reasonable“ job or training in the Authority’s estimation, the amount can also be reduced by 30 percent for three months.
Federal Constitutional Court examines Hartz IV cuts
With repeated „rule violations“ further sanctions threaten: At the second time the Jobcenter can cut the achievements by 60 per cent. The third time they threaten to be completely canceled, including rent subsidy and financial support for health insurance. The sanctions for the unemployed under the age of 25 can be even stricter.
Since January, the Federal Constitutional Court has been examining whether such cuts in remuneration are compatible with the Basic Law.
