“People are dependent on the housing benefit because of the high energy prices, especially in January, February and March, because the gas price brake is only supposed to take effect in March,” emphasized Landsberg. Therefore, a quick and uncomplicated solution had to be found. He therefore advocates a lump-sum advance payment similar to the Corona aid: “The application for housing benefit should be easy and digital. The application should only ask about the basic entitlement to housing benefit and the number of household members,” said Landsberg.
The money should then be transferred quickly and unbureaucratically. “The precise examination of the applications and the determination of income will take place later.”
The social organizations also demanded pragmatic solutions. “Even now, the offices can hardly keep up with the processing of the applications,” said VdK President Verena Bentele of the editorial network Germany (RND / Friday editions). The test procedures are “much too complicated and lengthy”. However, those entitled to housing benefit usually have no reserves to bridge a few weeks or months. “Therefore, the housing benefit offices must make use of the opportunity to temporarily pay out the housing benefit and waive any repayment claims,” said Bentele.
Werner Hesse, managing director of the Paritätischer Gesamtverband, also called for “needs-based advance payments for everyone with a low income” until the applications were processed and the housing allowance was paid out.
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