Scandal: Minimum wage earners in cities fight for survival!

Scandal: Minimum wage earners in cities fight for survival!

In Germany, more than half of the population rents, making the country the number one renter in the EU. According to the report by schwaebische-post.de Around 21 million households live in rented accommodation, with half of the tenants belonging to the bottom third of the income distribution. Low-income earners in particular are affected by rising housing costs, which are perceived as a serious social problem.

In a request from the left-wing politician Cem Ince to the federal government, the high rent and heating costs for minimum wage earners were discussed. The minimum wage is currently 12.82 euros, which for a full-time position with 37.5 hours per week results in a gross salary of 2,083 euros. After deducting the living expenses of 563 euros, only 1,175 euros remain net. For minimum wage earners, it is crucial that the reasonable expenses for accommodation and heating amount to a maximum of 612 euros per month in order not to be entitled to social assistance.

Social support and rental costs

Anyone who spends more than 600 euros on housing and heating has the opportunity to apply for state support. Rents are often exorbitant, especially in urban areas. According to the report, the average asking rent in major cities in 2024 was around 11 euros per square meter. This means that low earners in particular have difficulty covering their living costs independently. An average single apartment with 47.5 square meters currently costs around 522 euros, excluding heating and additional costs.

Cem Ince describes the precarious situation as a “scandal” and emphasizes that even full-time employees are dependent on state support. To counteract this problem, Ince is calling for a poverty-proof minimum wage and the introduction of a rent cap. The political discussion also includes measures by the federal government to improve the housing situation, including an extension of the rent cap and the so-called “construction turbo”, which is intended to speed up the approval process.

In addition, it should be noted that social welfare offices cover the actual costs of accommodation in the first year of benefits, while after that only reasonable costs can be claimed as part of support for living expenses or basic security. Heating costs are also covered at an appropriate rate. These regulations particularly support those in need who live in rented apartments.

• Die Kostenübernahme gilt für Mietwohnungen, Eigentumswohnungen und eigene Häuser.
• Umzugskosten sowie Wohnungsbeschaffungskosten können ebenfalls übernommen werden.
• Die Zustimmung des Sozialamts ist vor einem Umzug in der Regel erforderlich.
• Das Sozialamt berücksichtigt neben Kaltmiete auch kalte Nebenkosten und Heizkosten.
• Bei Eigentumswohnungen werden Betriebskosten und Zinsen anerkannt, Tilgungsraten jedoch nicht.

Against this background, it becomes clear that the challenges in the housing market not only affect individuals, but also society as a whole. To address these problems, both political solutions and social support measures are required.