German social security benefits - do you spend more or less?

[dachs]

Hello Mustachians. I just stumbled upon this pie-chart of German social security benefits for 2015. This is what an unemployed single person get's in Germany if he has not contributed to the system yet or is unemployed for longer than one year. It's 399€ (433.9 US$ with todays exchange rate) per month. Rent and healthcare are paid by social security, electricity and everything else is not.

What do you guys think? Do you spend less than that? What would a person get in your country in the same situation?

So here is the translation of the list:

1) Groceries, Beverages : 141.65€
2) Leisure, Entertainment, Culture: 44.05
3) Datatransmission: 35.23€ (that's Internet and cellphone etc.)
4) Clothes, Shoes: 33.52€
5) Living, Energy, Apartment Maintenance: 33.36€
6) Furniture etc, Domestic Appliances, Other: 30.24€
7) Other Goods and Services: 29.21€
8) Transportation: 25.14€
9) Hygiene: 17.16€
10) Education: 1.52€
11) Hotels and Restaurants: 7.90€

I'm not so sure about the translation, if anyone here can help feel free to correct me  :)
You also have to consider here that lot's of things will be cheaper if you receive that support, e.g. public transportation etc.

PS: there are two cents missing, no idea why ;)

[forummm]

What kind of education can you buy for 1.52€ per month?

If you multiply it by 2 (assuming each spouse gets the $434/mo), that's still about half of what we currently spend excluding housing and healthcare. We could probably make it work, but that would be a big struggle.

[dachs]

Good questions. At my local library I can get as many books per month as I can carry for 1,50, so that would work ;) However, If you're unemployed and don't find work they might want you to get additional skills and will pay for that.

[2lazy2retire]

Unemployment benefit in Ireland can be claimed indefinitely for as long as the individual remains unemployed. The standard payment is €188 per week for those aged 26 and over. For those aged 18 to 24 the rate is €100 per week. For those aged 25 the weekly rate is €144

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unemployment_benefits

[forummm]

You also have to consider here that lot's of things will be cheaper if you receive that support, e.g. public transportation etc.

What else would be on that list?

For comparison, the US federal poverty level is around $12,000 per year for an individual, and around $16,000 for a 2-person household. But that would include the cost of housing and healthcare.

[dachs]

You also have to consider here that lot's of things will be cheaper if you receive that support, e.g. public transportation etc.

What else would be on that list?

For comparison, the US federal poverty level is around $12,000 per year for an individual, and around $16,000 for a 2-person household. But that would include the cost of housing and healthcare.

I think that depends on the federal state or even the city you live in. Where I live you can probably get the same discounts as students, eg. swimming pool, library, public transportation or in general whatever is offered by the city.

[EricP]

So if I was German, I could get my rent and healthcare paid for plus 399 Euros forever?  Is that what you are telling me? Is it means tested?  Do I have to be disabled? 

[dachs]

You have to send three job applications per month and if they offer you a job you have to take it if it fits your qualification.

[EricP]

You have to send three job applications per month and if they offer you a job you have to take it if it fits your qualification.

"They" meaning the government or the people you are applying to?

[dachs]

Yes, the government.

[lostamonkey]

1 Euro=1.41 Canadian so it's $564/month

If the government paid for housing and health care, I could live quite comfortably on that amount.