A Cheeky Look at Family Allowances in Hungary: A Comedy of Errors or a Tragedy on Repeat?
Oh dear readers, gather ‘round, for we must dissect a rather perplexing situation in Hungary regarding child benefits and the apparent family ‘support’ dished out by the government. It appears that we’ve tumbled headfirst into a bureaucratic fiasco where promises fly like confetti at a wedding, yet the actual substance leaves us wanting—much like the food at said wedding.
So, let’s start with our noble MP, Sándor Szabó, who summoned the culture and innovation minister (perhaps the only minister whose title sounds more like a band at Glastonbury) to explain the stagnation of family allowances since 2008. Now, if 2008 feels like a lifetime ago, that’s because it was! Back then, people still thought it was a good idea to leave the house without a smartphone, and the world hadn’t yet gone full-on ‘you’ve-got-mail’ crazy. But alas, our dear families have been hanging on to a semblance of financial support that’s about as inflated as a popped balloon!
The family allowance is the only monthly benefit in Hungary today, which is a basic right for every child. However, this benefit has not increased by one forint since 2008.
Let’s break this down: child poverty is climbing higher than your uncle after a few too many drinks at a family reunion. In fact, that’s the kind of statistic that should make you gasp, or at the very least, raise an eyebrow in disbelief. It’s not the kind of news that calls for a hearty toast, is it?
Now, enter Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. He sauntered onto the radio waves like a knight in slightly tarnished armor proclaiming that, yes indeedy, child allowances may very well, possibly, could be on the rise. A rousing notion, indeed! But hold onto your hats—cue the collective *facepalm* from families who have been waiting for this “family-friendly” government to stick to the script.
Many people raised their heads at this, what hundreds of thousands of families have been waiting for for years is finally happening, that the state will finally provide higher support for raising children.
Of course, let’s not forget the classic politician maneuver: the blame game. It appears that Mr. Zsigó, our amusingly named deputy minister, pointed fingers back 14 years on behalf of the ruling party while carefully skimming over who’s been in power since then. It’s a bit like a magician who’s just revealed his tricks but still expects you to believe in the magic.
Sándor Szabó didn’t take the response lying down. No, no! He reminded everyone that raising children costs money. Shocking, I know—who would have thought that feeding and clothing tiny humans would be a *financial sacrifice*? Next, we’ll discover that water is wet! And what about those family allowances elsewhere? Poland, Slovakia, Croatia—apparently, they’re living in some kind of parallel universe where child benefits are more substantial than a two-for-one sale on chocolate!
Having children is a very beautiful and noble thing, but quite simply you must understand that it involves a very serious financial sacrifice.
As the session drew to a close, Szabó rejected Zsigó’s pat answer faster than you could say “Bureaucratic Nonsense.” It’s as if he threw down the gauntlet, but whether anyone picks it up remains to be seen. Will the children of Hungary finally see the cash flow they’ve been deprived of like soap at a bad restaurant? We can only wait and see—but don’t hold your breath!
In conclusion, dear readers, let’s laugh to keep from crying. Because if there’s one thing more absurd than the bureaucratic back-and-forth of politicians, it’s the realization that while families are struggling to make ends meet, their government is deftly dancing around the issues without ever stepping on the toe of real responsibility. Here’s to hoping for a future where we can all enjoy a perfectly funded family life rather than a series of punchlines!
The interpellation about the family allowance addressed to the minister responsible for culture and innovation, Zoltán Balázs Hankó, by the member of parliament Sándor Szabó was as follows:
“Dear Minister!
The family allowance is the only monthly benefit in Hungary today, which is a basic right for every child. The family allowance is also an important tool for preventing and overcoming child poverty and avoiding the economic and social crisis. However, this benefit has not increased by one forint since 2008.
Apparently, the government’s other population policy measures did not achieve their goal, as the number of births has never been as low as it is now. Last year we reached a new negative record: only 85,000 children were born. However, there is something that has increased, and that is poverty. According to KSH data, the proportion of people living in income poverty is increasing again, child poverty is one and a half times higher than it was four years ago (increased from 9.5 percent to 14.3 percent).
That’s why it’s important On October 4, 2024, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said the following on Hungarian radio: “This is a family-friendly government, from which we will never let go, once we have grasped this bone, like the bloke, we will not let it out of our teeth, and this is support for families. ….. now after the inflation ordeal, we are already over it, now the family allowance for children needs to be doubled, so this has to happen next year, I will not give in.”
Many people raised their heads at this, what hundreds of thousands of families have been waiting for for years is finally happening, that the state will finally provide higher support for raising children.
Of course, it’s easy to brush all of this off with the fact that the Prime Minister was wrong, made a mistake, again and didn’t mean it. At the same time, he explained that the situation of those raising children, “regardless of their occupation and the wage level of their occupation”, will noticeably improve. And it would follow from this that the prime minister was really thinking about increasing the family allowance.
There is every reason for that, since the government did not sufficiently compensate for the drastic price increases of the past years, neither in wages nor in pensions, and there was no increase at all in the family allowances due to the subject, and in the social benefits due to the poorest in the last 14 years. It was not by chance that the news portals reported on the shocking KSH data that in 2009 the state budget spent 2.2 percent of GDP on these family support benefits, and in 2023 it will only be 1.1 percent. The amounts paid for family allowance, child support, and childcare support have reached a multi-decade low.
The MSZP believes that the state should provide an amount for raising children that, even at today’s prices, provides real help to families. That is why it is necessary to immediately increase the family allowance, GYES, GYET, and maternity allowance. But doubling is not enough today, these benefits must be tripled to reach their former value. It is true that many people are in such a position that they would be happy with a raise of any size.
Because of all this, we recently submitted a bill that contains the following points:
Because of all this, I ask:
- Will they finally at least double the family allowance, which we have been waiting for for 14 years? If not, why not?
- Do they support the MSZP’s proposals? If not, why not?”
At the hearing of the interpellations, Sándor Szabó was the second to speak. Instead of the minister responsible for culture and innovation, Deputy Minister Róbert Zsigó tried to answer his questions. First, it was tied to a statistical data, then came the finger-pointing about what happened 14 years ago.
According to him, in 2010 they helped families in “countless” ways, a “family-friendly” turn took place and they have only been supporting families ever since. Finally, there was a meaningful sentence. “We have decided to double the tax allowance for children in two steps next year precisely in order to help Hungarian families,” Róbert Zsigó declared, and then continued to criticize the Fidesz government.
After the answer, it was Sándor Szabó’s turn to respond to what was said. “Having children is a very beautiful and noble thing, but quite simply you must understand that it involves a very serious financial sacrifice.” Which means that in today’s Hungary, when consumption is decreasing, when families live from one day to the next, raising children requires money, more money, a lot of money.
Similar subsidies in other countries, just to give a few examples: 80,000 in Poland, 23,000 in Croatia, 24,000 in Slovakia, 23,000 forints in Romania. This is still HUF 12,200 per child. I think there is room for improvement. They need to understand that people need money to raise children now, not family tax relief.
I can’t accept the answer. Thank you very much – parliament member Sándor Szabó rejected Róbert Zsigó’s answer.
The decision will be made during the course of tomorrow.
Giving birth in Lithuania as a foreigner
proposal to triple child benefits in order to provide meaningful support for families?
It seems clear that there is a growing concern and urgency surrounding the issue of child allowances in Hungary. The discussions between various politicians reveal a deepening sense of frustration over the stagnation of these benefits in the face of rising living costs and increasing child poverty. Though there are hints of optimism from Prime Minister Orbán regarding potential future increases, one is left wondering how many more years families will have to wait for tangible financial support.
This meticulous dissection of the conversation surrounding child benefits in Hungary showcases not just the struggle of families but also the political maneuvering that often obscures real solutions. It seems as though change may be on the horizon, but as we’ve seen, promises made in political arenas can be as insubstantial as mist—here one moment, gone the next.
dear readers, the case of child benefits in Hungary is not just a bureaucratic issue; it’s a matter of great human concern. As we await the outcome of this ongoing saga, let’s hope for a resolution that truly supports families—not just in words, but in effective policies and financial relief. Perhaps, one day, the laughter we share in response to these absurdities will transform into genuine joy as promised changes finally materialize. Until then, let’s stay vigilant and keep the pressure on those in power to do right by the children of Hungary.
