Status: 31.08.2023, 19:00 p.m.
By: Patricia Huber
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The new basic child benefit is in the starting blocks. But not everyone is convinced of the plans. Opposition and social associations are criticizing.
Berlin – It should finally come: The basic child benefit is now in the starting blocks. The new regulation of child benefit, child allowance and the like is intended to combat child poverty in Germany in the future. By bundling the services, the support for families should arrive without much bureaucratic effort. In addition, low-income families in particular are to receive a supplement based on their low income – this is intended to ensure greater fairness.
Basic child benefit: "Funds only relabeled"
But not everyone is convinced of the plans of Federal Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus (Greens). Criticism was voiced, especially from the opposition. CDU deputy leader Silvia Breher spoke of a "deceptive package". It is not clear from the plans how the situation of needy children will actually be improved. Janine Wissler, leader of the Left Party, also used the term "deceptive packaging". With the introduction of the basic child benefit, "essentially only funds would be relabeled," she criticized.
Union Vice-President Dorothee Bär is even harsher with the plans. With this reform, the federal government would not set any "effective incentives" for parents to work and would not enable poor children to seize their educational opportunities, she criticized in a statement. "The basic child benefit show of the traffic light is a farce and a family policy imposition," said Bär.
The new basic child benefit is intended to combat child poverty. But not everyone is convinced. (Symbolic photo) © IMAGO/Rolf Poss
"Not the hoped-for big hit": Social associations not convinced
But even social associations are not completely convinced of the new basic child benefit. In particular, they complained that there would be no significant performance improvements. The agreement was "not the hoped-for big hit, which eliminates child poverty in Germany comprehensively and sustainably," said the German Children's Fund. The Joint Association noted that, contrary to the original plans, benefits from the education and participation package would not be paid out as a lump sum, but would "continue to have to be applied for individually".
In total, costs of 2.4 billion euros were estimated for the basic child benefit for the first year. What sounds like a lot of money at first will probably not be enough to completely eliminate child poverty in Germany. Roman Jung from the Stuttgart-based association "children first", which cares for children from socially disadvantaged families, emphasizes this to tagesschau.de. "It's a big sum when you hear that first. But with three million children affected by poverty in Germany, that's only a small contribution," says Jung. (ph/dpa)