A pensioner from Hamburg, who collected recyclable bottles to supplement his income, found himself with reduced social benefits, even though he had correctly declared the money he earned. The case, reported by the German magazine Hinz&Kunzt, caused strong reactions in Germany.
A pensioner from Hamburg found himself with reduced social assistance. PHOTO: Shutterstock
The man, who receives a very small pension and social assistance in the form of “Grundsicherung” – a guaranteed minimum income for elderly people on low incomes – made almost 60 euros in September from returning the bottles. Instead of being rewarded for fairness, the amount was deducted from his welfare.
The district office in Altona confirmed to Hinz&Kunzt that the income obtained from collecting bottles is taken into account when determining social assistance and there are no legal exceptions for such earnings: “In Altona, the income from the collection of guaranteed bottles is also taken into account when calculating the benefits and is deducted from the aid”the district administration sent.
Germany's Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, however, offered a different interpretation: although any income must be declared, there are exceptions for very small earnings. According to the ministry, the collection of bottles can be exempted from the reduction of social assistance, and a court decision in 2020 confirmed this approach for a similar case, where it was 100 euros obtained from guarantees for bottles.
So far, the Social Authority of Hamburg has not offered an official point of view in the case of the pensioner from Altona, and the radio station NDR 90.3 has not received a response to requests for reaction.
