The system is designed to help people in need and is thus also known as the “social net”. This is necessary, above all, for poor people, i.e. those with a disposable income of less than 781 Euro a month, about 13% of the Germans. A further 13% are protected from the same fate by means of state benefit payments. They receive welfare aid, housing allowance, maintenance support and other benefits. However, it is not only the impoverished who receive social benefits in Germany, but also old people, bereaved dependants, sick persons and invalids, children, parents, the unemployed and the job-seekers. For all of these Germany has been spending at least 700 bn Euro a year since the beginning of the 21st century. In 2007 it was 706.9 bn Euro, almost 22 times as much as in 1960. Also in terms of percentage of the GDP the costs have risen enormously in the last 40 years. In 1960 just under 21% of public revenue went into the welfare budget, in 1970 it was 23% and in 2007 29%.