Verena Bentele, the president of the VdK social association, has publicly called for increased state aid for vulnerable populations in response to rising costs of living. According to Bentele, who spoke to “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” the federal government must urgently develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure that basic life expenses remain affordable.
The VdK executive stated that individuals earning low wages or receiving modest pensions will struggle to cope with price hikes affecting necessities such as food, housing, and energy. Specifically, she advocated for measures including rent caps, affordable and healthy staple foods, and state support for utilizing renewable energy sources, which would help lower costs.
Furthermore, Bentele emphasized the need for more government assistance programs. She pointed to improvements in accessing housing allowances (Wohngeld) or basic security benefits (Grundsicherung), as well as a form of inflation compensation integrated into existing social benefits. These benefits encompass payments such as the Bürgergeld, housing subsidies, student funding (Bafög), and elderly basic security. She concluded by noting that inflation remains a persistent issue in the current global crisis environment.
