As of: 12/25/2022 3:16 a.m
Federal Family Minister Paus is driving the introduction of basic child security. Low-income families in particular should benefit. She intends to present key points at the beginning of next year.
Federal Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus has outlined a timetable for the introduction of the planned basic child security and also explained the first details of the planned social benefit. “At the beginning of next year I will present the key points. The draft law will follow following the summer break. In 2025, the basic child security will be paid out,” Paus told the newspapers of the Funke media group. Child poverty has worsened during the crisis, but basic child security might be “a real paradigm shift”.
“Basic child security check” is intended to determine needs
Paus gave details of her concept: In order to determine the need, a “basic child security check” would be introduced, she announced. Families whose income falls below a certain limit should be specifically addressed through the tax authorities. The application for the benefit should then be processed “conveniently online” via a portal, said the minister. “We don’t want families to have to run following money,” said Paus.
According to her, the benefits include a guaranteed amount regardless of the parents’ income and an income-related additional amount. Paus initially did not want to comment on the amount of the social benefit, but indicated targeted help for low-income families. “We have to make sure that low-income families get more money for their children,” said the minister. Well-off families, on the other hand, do not need higher benefits.
Important element of the coalition agreement
Paus rejected doubts regarding the feasibility of basic child security in view of the billions spent on relief packages and energy price brakes. The traffic light parties had committed themselves to this “important socio-political project” in the coalition agreement, she said. “The Federal Chancellor is fully behind it. And my discussions show me that all ministries involved also want basic child security.”
In their coalition agreement concluded in 2021, the SPD, Greens and FDP had agreed to introduce basic child security in order to strengthen families and get children out of poverty. The new service is intended to create better opportunities for children and young people in general. A construction with two components was already announced in the coalition agreement – with a “guaranteed amount that is independent of income and is the same for all children and young people, and a graduated additional amount that depends on parental income”.