Guideline on reasonable expenses for accommodation and heating adopted

At its meeting yesterday, Chemnitz City Council approved the new guideline on reasonable expenses for accommodation and heating for SGB II (Hartz IV) and social welfare recipients. Accordingly, from 1 December 2012, for example, EUR 267.84 gross rent (= basic rent plus cold operating costs) will be recognised for a one-person household.

The Federal Social Court requires a regular update of the coherent concept, which forms the basis for the guideline. In this respect, the City of Chemnitz will revise these guidelines in 2013. Until the update, the general rule is that people in need whose actual accommodation costs do not exceed the values of the previous Table 1 (1-person household EUR 300) do not currently have to expect any changes.

Benefit recipients who are affected by a change will be informed in writing by their responsible authority - Job Centre or Social Welfare Office of the City of Chemnitz. Should changes become necessary for benefit recipients, this will also be carefully checked by the authority before a decision is made in each individual case.