Status: 22/09/2023, 22:21 p.m.
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Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) speaks in the Bundestag with Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens). © Michael Kappeler/dpa
After a long coalition dispute over the basic child benefit, there was still a problem with details. Now the reform - a socio-political flagship of the traffic light - can be discussed in the cabinet.
Berlin - The German government has agreed on the details of the basic child benefit that are still open. The German Press Agency learned this from government circles, first the "Rheinische Post" had reported. Nothing stands in the way of the cabinet referral, it said. The Ministry of Family Affairs has implemented the information from other ministries and the Federal Employment Agency on the relevant points.
In their coalition agreement, the SPD, the Greens and the FDP had agreed to introduce a basic child benefit. Previous benefits such as child benefit, benefits from the citizen's allowance for children or the child allowance are to be bundled in it. With the help of a central platform, families who have not yet been entitled to the funds to which they are currently entitled are also to be reached.
Controversial issue between the Greens and the FDP
Actually, the basic child benefit, which is controversial between the Greens and the FDP, should have been launched in the Federal Cabinet a week and a half ago. At least the expectation had been expressed by Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens). However, it did not get on the agenda after all. At the time, it was said from circles of the Ministry of Family Affairs that there was still a problem with the so-called child benefit transfer and the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act. In other words, questions about who receives benefits and how they are or are not offset against the basic child benefit.
The "Rheinische Post" and other media have now reported that the agreement stipulates that an immediate surcharge of 20 euros per child introduced during the Corona pandemic will be abolished from 2025 for children of asylum seekers. "The SPD and the Greens want to pay asylum seekers 20 euros more per child per month in the long term. I don't support that," said Federal Finance Minister and FDP leader Christian Lindner. "The standard rates are reasonable, and we should not send the wrong signals, especially with the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act," he added. Dpa
