Life at the limit - poverty is no adventure

Mangan family falls through the gaps in the safety net

Mrs Mangan comes regularly for the budget counselling offered by Caritas St. Gallen-Appenzell, even though she is an exemplary book- keeper. Social counsellor Lorenz Bertsch remembers the first session with her: «A detailed budget usually opens up possibilities to save money. But with Mrs Mangan, it soon became clear: there was virtually no potential for savings. She was already spending hardly any money.» Mrs Mangan’s case shows what «working poor» really means.

Until recently, Mrs Mangan just managed to pay for her fixed costs provided she only bought food at reduced prices – for example in the Caritas Market. It was always the unforeseen costs that blew her budget. Her daughter Vanessa is soon starting an apprenticeship, for which she has to commute to St. Gallen every day. Annual transport costs: 2’400 francs. Vanessa also needs a laptop and school books. There are no savings.

In 2023, due to inflation, there was not even enough to cover the fixed costs: «I’m regularly faced with the choice of either buying food or paying bills», says Mrs Mangan. Due to inflation, working-poor families faced up to 500 francs in additional costs per month in 2023. Lorenz Bertsch is worried:

Profile Mrs Mangan…

• is the mother of two children and is a single parent,
• she works 80% in food production,
• earns CHF 3’430 net a month, including child allowances,
• with this income, she is CHF 30 above the minimum subsistence level under social welfare law and therefore receives no help from the state,
• pays CHF 1’720 in rent, ten years ago it was CHF 1’260,
• does not receive any alimony because her son spends part of the time with his father,
• has lived in Switzerland for 21 years, is a naturalised Swiss and speaks good German,
• has no social network for occasional support with the children.

Social and debt counselling support when in need

Anyone who, like Mrs Mangan, falls through the social security net can turn to Caritas. During the budget counselling session, the client’s financial situation is examined and solutions are sought. If the savings potential is exhausted, Caritas can provide support with financial contributions. Such help gives Mrs Mangan a short-term breathing space – but the structural problems are not resolved. She is nevertheless grateful: «Caritas supports me reliably and on equal terms. So I feel less alone with my worries.»

Switzerland must eliminate structural poverty

As the case of Mrs Mangan clearly shows, there are serious gaps in the social security system. In July 2023, Caritas Switzerland produced a position paper calling for a «decent livelihood for all». Mrs Mangan would then receive family allowances as supplementary benefits which would drastically improve her situation.

• Poverty in Switzerland (German)

• Our positions

• Position paper «decent livelihood for all» (German)