(de-news.net) – Federal Minister of Labor Bärbel Bas SPD) aims to swiftly implement reforms to the citizen’s income system. The SPD politician stated in Berlin that individuals who miss appointments should face stricter penalties. Additionally, she intends to modify the grace period for personal assets, which currently protects an individual’s wealth during the first year of benefit receipt. Bas has pledged to present a legislative proposal on this matter in the near future.

CDU Secretary-General Carsten Linnemann has been advocating for a comprehensive overhaul of the citizen’s income framework, emphasizing the need for a stringent approach toward so-called employment refusers. His proposals have met resistance from the SPD, particularly from Deputy Chair of the SPD parliamentary group, Dagmar Schmidt, who regards these measures as direct attacks on the welfare state. Schmidt asserts that social security should not be treated merely as a budgetary expenditure subject to financial constraints but rather as an institution requiring greater contributions from those with substantial incomes and assets.

Linnemann calls for fundamental adjustments, including the suspension of payments in certain cases. He argues that if an individual repeatedly declines a reasonable job opportunity despite evident employability, the state must assume the absence of genuine need. Currently, job centers already have the authority to withhold the basic citizen’s income for two months if recipients refuse suitable employment offers, though accommodation and heating costs remain covered. According to the Federal Employment Agency (BA), expenditures for citizen’s income rose to nearly 47 billion euros last year, compared to approximately 43 billion euros the year before and 37 billion euros the preceding year.