2023-08-25 12:57:35
Attention urgent: Invitation to a background discussion with Federal Minister for Family Affairs Paus,” was the announcement that the ministry sent out shortly after 9 a.m. on Friday morning. There was an agreement at the political level on key points of the draft law on basic child security. A call back followed immediately. “Please delete.” The mail was sent by mistake. Discussions about basic child security were still ongoing. Paus’ press spokesman announced that they would be informed at short notice when the agreement was reached.
The false report reflects the nervousness in the ministry of Lisa Paus (Greens) and demonstrates the confusion that prevails in the traffic light coalition on the way to basic child security until the end. Paus had assured that all open points would be agreed before the cabinet meeting in Meseberg next Tuesday and Wednesday. The scope of future services in particular has been the subject of arguments for months. Paus had therefore blocked the growth opportunities law of Federal Finance Minister Christian Linder (FDP) in the federal cabinet.
Lindner, in turn, is accused by social organizations of blocking basic child security. “Finance Minister Lindner must give up his blocking attitude and provide money for the resolute fight against poverty!” demanded Michael Groß, Chairman of the Presidium of the AWO Federal Association. The associations also criticize the fact that Lindner emphasized – first in an interview in the FAZ – that there is a connection between immigration and poverty. The aim must be the work integration of immigrant parents; increased social transfers “do not necessarily improve their children’s life chances.”
5.9 billion euros costs in 2028
Various versions of a draft for basic child security are now in circulation. According to the draft available to this newspaper, 3.53 billion euros are planned for the planned introductory year of basic child security in 2025. For 2026 it is then 4.29 billion euros, for 2027 an amount of 5.3 billion euros is estimated and for 2028 5.9 billion euros are planned. But the passage to the follow-up costs is disputed. An addition in brackets states that the costs calculated for 2025 have not yet been extrapolated to the following years. That will happen in the departmental coordination as soon as the planning horizon in the departmental group has been agreed.
Paus linked the success of basic child security to more money for families in need of support. In order to keep this promise, the new income-related additional amount should not be linked to the conditions that previously applied to receiving the child allowance. “This means that around 1.9 million children who are currently only receiving SGB II benefits will be entitled to the additional amount of basic child security,” says the draft.
Child benefit will be withdrawn
The additional amount is intended to cover a lump sum for accommodation and heating based on the relevant subsistence level report by the federal government – for the year 2024 in the amount of 125 euros – as well as age-related standard needs, insofar as these benefits are not covered by the guaranteed amount. The income-independent guaranteed amount is intended to replace the child benefit of 250 euros per month. In addition to the additional amount, the flat-rate benefits for education and participation should also be applied for and paid out. What is meant is the participation fee of 15 euros per month and the school supplies package of currently 174 euros per year.
In cases where only housing benefit and no additional amount is received, an application for the flat-rate participation amount and the school supplies package must be submitted to the offices to be determined by the federal states. These offices would also be responsible for the other services for education and participation, such as tutoring, class trips, lunch or school transport. The municipal umbrella organizations therefore fear additional bureaucracy due to basic child security, especially since children should continue to be entitled to citizen benefit in individual cases – at least that was initially intended. According to reports, there was also a dispute about how the costs for the accommodation should be dealt with.
A comment by Dietrich Creutzburg, Berlin Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 75 A comment by Julia Löhr, Berlin Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 117 Katja Gelinsky, Berlin Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 115
The redefinition of the child’s subsistence level, which Paus was aiming for, has apparently been postponed to the future. The draft states that as a “first step” the more than 20-year-old distribution keys, with which parts of the household expenses are allocated to the children, would be renewed within the standard needs assessment then get the name “Family Service”. Families who are potentially eligible for the means-tested supplement should be proactively made aware of this benefit. As the head of the family fund of the Federal Employment Agency, Karsten Bunk, told the “Welt”, around 405 local contact points would be needed, around 300 more than before. Instead of the previous almost 5800 employees, up to 8000 employees would be needed in the meantime.
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