Germany’s highest court reached a groundbreaking decision this week when it ruled that it was “partially illegal” to penalize Hartz IV welfare recipients. We look at why critics have called to change the system since its beginnings.
Nearly every seventh child in Germany required assistance from Hartz IV last year, says the newest report from the German Federal Employment Agency (BA). Only 5 years ago, the rate was one in every eight children.
The Jobcentre in Dortmund decided to cut a man’s welfare payments in August when his case worker spotted him begging. But they have now said he can keep begging, as long as he doesn’t make too much money.
Schleswig-Holstein’s new state government is considering a project to bring in an unconditional basic income. But the plans aren’t quite as advanced as some media outlets suggest.
On Wednesday the German government agreed on a draft law to severely curtail social benefits for EU citizens. Who does it apply to, and how does it differ from the UK's previous attempts to hinder immigration?
The German government on Wednesday approved a new law to curb social benefits for EU citizens who arrive in the country without a job, as it responds to pressure to get tough on migrants.
Discount supermarket giant Aldi Nord has pledged to stop selling any eggs from caged hens in its stores globally by 2025, making it the first multinational supermarket in the world to do so.
Income inequality has leapt in Germany since 2000, a new study shows, with the lowest earners having less money in their pockets than 15 years ago despite sustained economic growth.
European nationals who move to Germany cannot expect to receive social welfare for the first three months of their stay in Germany, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on Thursday.
A study conducted by the Bertelsmann Institute shows that in 2014 local governments spent €78 billion on welfare payments, half as much again as a decade earlier.
Foreigners often get a nasty shock along with their first German payslip - hundreds of euros deducted from their take-home wage. Don't panic - the latest in The Local's <b>JobTalk</b> series looks at German social security payments.
The number of children living on the basic welfare payments known as Hartz IV may be shrinking, but latest figures from the Federal Employment Agency (BA) show that one in seven German children is still dependent on those benefits.
Bavarian conservatives’ insistence on paying parents to keep their children out of public day care has made a mockery of Angela Merkel’s family policies, writes Der Tagesspiegel’s Hans Monath.
Germany’s 20 million pensioners are going to find life increasingly tough with the government confirming for the first time that benefit payments are rising at well below the pace of inflation.
The pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) is stepping up its effort to revive flagging voter interest with an overhaul of Germany's social welfare net, suggesting a basic children’s income should replace all parenting and child payments.
So few recipients of Hartz IV welfare benefits have applied for financial help for their children that German Labour Minister Ursula von der Leyen is preparing to write to each family to let them know what they are missing.
Parents hoping for an extension of <i>Elterngeld</i> parenting payments are set to be disappointed, with Family Minister Kristina Schröder reportedly ditching a plan for the number of “fathers’ months” to be doubled.
Most Germans fear gravely for the future of their cherished welfare state, believing they will pay more taxes yet receive fewer benefits in the coming decade, a major survey has found.
A man in Erfurt swallowed €145 in cash after an acquaintance demanded he give him his welfare benefit to settle an outstanding debt, daily <i>Bild</i> reported Friday.
After months of political wrangling, Germany’s upper house of parliament on Friday finally approved an increase of €5 to Hartz IV welfare benefits. But a separate court decision said those on the dole should expect payment for TVs.
After some eight weeks of difficult talks between the German government and the opposition, both sides reached a deal on reforms to Hartz IV welfare benefits early on Monday morning.
The German government and the opposition have failed once again to reach a deal on reforms to Hartz IV welfare benefits, negotiators announced early Wednesday. At issue is the amount paid to the long-term unemployed.
Government and opposition officials failed to agree on changes to Germany’s Hartz IV welfare benefits after nearly 10 hours of negotiations overnight, shrinking chances that the upper house of parliament will vote on the reforms this week.
