On May 27, 2025, Thorsten Frei, Head of the German Chancellery, stated on the ARD talk show Maischberger: “Everyone who works full-time earns enough to live on”. This statement is false.
The Context: A Heated Debate on Work and Wages
On May 27, 2025, CDU politician and Head of the German Chancellery Thorsten Frei appeared on the ARD talk show Maischberger. In a discussion on pensions, work incentives, and overtime, he argued that average working hours were too low due to weak incentives and that many full-time employees took on mini-jobs because of overtime taxation. Green Party politician Ricarda Lang countered: “If someone in full-time, socially insured employment still needs a mini-job, the problem isn’t overtime but the fact that this person doesn’t earn enough to live.” Frei then responded with the statement: “Everyone who works full-time earns enough to live on” — a statement that drew sharp criticism from Lang and the media.
Frei’s Clarification: A Number That Undermines His Own Point
In a follow-up response on the platform Abgeordnetenwatch, Frei clarified his statement. He referred to the 830.000 supplementary benefit recipients, so-called “top-up workers“, mentioned by Lang — people who receive supplemental social assistance (Bürgergeld) despite being employed — and stated that only about 80.000 of them work full-time. Frei based this figure on a LinkedIn post by a labor market researcher from the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW). The figure is confirmed by official data: according to a report by the Federal Employment Agency, 83.730 people in full-time jobs received top-up benefits in October 2024. Frei thereby contradicts his own statement: if tens of thousands of full-time workers need state support, not everyone can live off their earnings.
What Counts as “Enough to Live On”?
A look at Germany’s Social Code II (SGB II) shows what is legally defined as a minimum subsistence level. Anyone whose income does not cover this minimum is entitled to Bürgergeld. This benefit is designed to cover essential needs such as food, clothing, personal hygiene, household items, energy, and daily necessities. A flat-rate allowance is provided, along with support for housing and heating costs, which vary by region. If around 80.000 full-time workers still require this minimum level of state support, it is clear: their regular income is insufficient to meet even the most basic cost of living. Thus, a key condition of Frei’s statement, that everyone can live on their earnings, is not fulfilled.
Beyond Welfare: Working Full-Time and Still at Risk of Poverty
Even beyond those receiving supplemental Bürgergeld, many full-time workers earn very little. According to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, 4.4 percent of full-time workers in 2024 were at risk of poverty. Given 25.58 million full-time employees, that equates to around 1.13 million people. The EU defines the poverty risk threshold as 60 percent of the median equivalized income (EU-SILC). For single adults in Germany, this amounted to €1.381 net per month, according to the Paritätischer Welfare Association’s poverty report.
Source: Federal Employment Agency, Paritätischer poverty report and Handelsblatt.
Living Means More Than Surviving
To properly assess Frei’s statement, it is not enough to look solely at Bürgergeld as the lowest benchmark for defining when someone can “live on” their income. While the amount of money needed to “live” can vary depending on personal expectations, lifestyle, and local cost of living, the Paritätischer poverty report offers a broader perspective: living in a social sense means more than mere survival. Those below the poverty threshold often face material and social deprivation. Many of them are unable to build savings, afford a vacation, or take part in cultural and social activities. Yet social participation is a legally anchored right. Income that fails to allow for this over time can hardly be considered sufficient for a decent or secure life.
Conclusion: A Blanket Statement That Ignores Social Reality
Thorsten Frei claims that all full-time employees earn enough to live on. This absolute statement does not hold up. While the proportion of full-time workers receiving top-up benefits may be small, more than 80.000 affected individuals cannot be ignored. Added to this are over a million people living below the poverty threshold despite working full time. Legal definitions of subsistence and poverty standards show that “being able to live on one’s income” means more than just surviving — it includes social participation and financial stability. For a relevant portion of the workforce in Germany, this is not the case. Frei did speak in the context of work incentives and side jobs, but his blanket statement distorts the social reality. His claim must therefore be rated as false.
RESEARCH | ARTICLE © Amelie Ziegler | Hochschule der Medien, Stuttgart, Germany
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