The proposal would have a similar impact to one the UK government demanded ahead of the EU referendum.
After months of negotiation, David Cameron was eventually offered an 'emergency brake' on migration which created a seven year window in which new arrivals to Britain from the EU could be denied benefits.
The controversial proposal, which was opposed by several EU states for fear it would undermine EU free movement, was scrapped when Britain voted for Brexit in June.
Germany is allowed to press on with its own reforms to stop EU migrants claiming benefits because the system in the country (Germany) is partly based on claimants having made earlier contributions through taxation.
In Britain, benefits are entitlements which require no cash contribution - meaning the UK needed a treaty change to pursue similar reforms because EU law means all citizens must be treated the same by benefit systems.
See the difference? Or do the RWR need further explanation?
The Hatrz IV system has always been complex and contributions, means, age, and job prospects tested:
Whether or not a claimant is eligible for Arbeitslosengeld II depends on his or her savings, life insurance and the income of spouse or partner. If these assets are below a threshold level, a claimant can get money from the state. .....
An unemployed person may be required to accept any kind of legal job.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartz_concept
There has always been a requirement for someone, receiving subsistence payments, to accept any kind of job. The unemployment benefits has always been time-limited depending on the age, etc of the recipient.
So it's a totally different system.
New arrivals to Germany do not normally qualify for any unemployment benefit, simply because they will not have made the necessary contributions or have worked the required number of hours within the defined period.
However, some EU nationals may be able to claim benefit.
Subsistence allowance (Arbeitslosengeld II)
This allowance is lower than ordinary unemployment benefit and is payable when the claimant cannot receive full benefit or their period of benefit has come to an end, but they are still fit to work and registered as unemployed.
https://www.angloinfo.com/germany/how-to/page/germany-working-unemployment-unemployment-benefits
Clearly, the system of unemployment benefit is vastly different and not comparable to UK. The subsistence allowance is similar to UK.
However, notice the little passage in the original linked article:
The planned law would ban new EU arrivals from claiming money from the 'Hartz IV' system if they do not have a job or have not accrued rights to the payments in a previous job.
This is the real change! EU migrants not entitled to unemployment benefit would still be entitled to subsistence payments from the state.
Additionally, the Far Right movements have been concerned about non-EU migration, but:
The new laws will not impact on non-European migration ...
It's just the Mail, as usual, misrepresenting the situation, knowing the RWR will read even more misrepresentation into it.
