In a verdict Tuesday, the Federal Constitutional Court found that monthslong slashes to welfare benefits known as Hartz IV for “breaches of duty” are unlawful.
Under current legislation, recipients of the benefit can have their payments reduced by 30% for a period of three months if they don’t fulfill certain conditions. The amount can also be cut further […]
[Read more: Germany’s welfare experiment: Sanction-free ‘basic security’]
Recipients of the Hartz IV unemployment benefit are required to attend regular meetings with a job-center adviser […] be able to prove they are actively looking for work or enrolled in approved skills-training programs. The adviser can withhold payments if the claimant fails to fulfill these requirements, or if they refuse a job.
source: Deutsche Welle (EN)
