The German District Council is concerned about the new burdens created by the reductions in housing benefits, yet the council fundamentally supports the Federal Cabinet’s budgetary decisions. According to President Achim Brötel, the draft law is taking steps in the “right place.”
Brötel stated that the 2023 Housing Benefit Plus reform significantly expanded the number of eligible recipients, which consequently led to additional expenses and strain on the benefit authorities. He welcomed the federal government’s intention to introduce “simplifications and a reduction in the scope of benefits,” calling this approach “logical” and expressing his support for it. His core argument is that while the social state must assist people accurately and effectively, it also needs to remain financially sustainable in the long term. “Our goal is to concentrate state benefits more strongly on those who genuinely need them,” he emphasized.
At the same time, Brötel warned that a portion of the households currently receiving housing benefits could transition into basic social security systems. This would, he noted, put additional pressure on the districts and job centers. The District Administrator concluded by saying that it is therefore crucial for the overall restructuring of the social state to move forward, ensuring that the high pace of expenditure growth is also contained.
