Die Linke claims social benefit cuts will affect eight million people

The German political party Die Linke estimates that planned government cuts to social benefits will affect approximately eight million people in Germany. Ulrich Schneider, a member of the Die Linke board and former managing director of the Paritätischer Gesamtverband, released a paper detailing the potential impact of these reforms on low-income individuals.

Key proposed changes include:

- Housing Allowance (Wohngeld): A cabinet draft aims to save at least 1.5 billion euros annually starting in 2027, increasing to two billion euros by 2028, by reducing the number of recipients and the amount of support. - Care Services (Pflege): Proposed restrictions on access to care services, including the potential removal of a 131-euro relief amount for level-one care, could affect one million people. - Parental Allowance (Elterngeld): While minimum and maximum amounts may increase slightly, the duration of benefits is proposed to decrease from 14 to 12 months. - Child Immediate Supplement (Kindersofortzuschlag): The removal of a 25-euro supplement for low-income families could affect 1.5 million children across 600,000 households. - Maintenance Advance (Unterhaltsvorschuss): Plans to lower the age limit for state maintenance advances from 18 to 16 could affect approximately 111,000 teenagers. - Student Aid (Bafög): Delays in adjusting housing cost allowances for students were also noted.