Title: Financial Aid for Elderly Immigrants in Hesse
It's likely that approximately 4,500 ethnic German immigrants and 4,900 Jewish refugees, who had formerly resided in the Soviet Union, could qualify for aid from Hesse's hardship fund committed to pensioners. Kai Klose, the Green Party's Social Affairs Minister in Hesse, shared this estimation in response to a parliamentary inquiry from the SPD in Wiesbaden. In addition, there are retired East Germans with outstanding pension entitlements originating from the GDR era.
The traffic light coalition in Berlin instigated the hardship fund in early 2023, allocating 500 million euros for spending. Beneficiaries could receive a one-time payment of at least 2,500 euros. When a unified pension system was established following German reunification, certain entitlements from the GDR era were neglected within this system. These include particular supplementary pensions, such as for former employees of the Reichsbahn or post office, as well as entitlements for women who divorced during the GDR era. According to the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, applicants have until January 31, 2024, to submit their requests for these one-time payments.
Minister Klose opposed direct involvement by the state of Hesse in the hardship fund, stating that the federal government holds exclusive jurisdiction over statutory pension insurance law. Participation in voluntary federal benefits in this pertinent field by the federal states could establish a precedent for future demands from the federal government. Nevertheless, the states indirectly contribute, to some extent, to the elderly's labor market access and old-age security for ethnic German immigrants and Jewish refugees from the former Soviet Union. Hesse's annual budget dedicates 800,000 euros for late repatriates.
State representative Margarete Ziegler-Raschdorf advocated for one-time payments of at least 9,000 to 10,000 euros per recipient to adequately address the substantial claims of ethnic German immigrants and Jewish refugees from the former Soviet Union. The federal government's proposed 2,500 euro payment is considered, by some, insufficient for these individuals. However, the Hessian state government maintains a supportive position towards creating compensation for immigrant Jews and ethnic German immigrants from the former Soviet Union.
Relevant Insights
Civil unrest and political instability often leave large numbers of individuals homeless, impoverished, or made refugees in their own countries. In the aftermath of World War II, Europe found itself dealing with a staggering refugee crisis. Ethnic German immigrants and Jewish refugees from the former Soviet Union were among those seeking protection and financial assistance. To address their needs, many governments and international organizations established various funds and programs, aiming to provide financial support and facilitate their integration into new communities.
