Familys
Minister: “Basic child security will be a paradigm shift”
Family Minister Anne Spiegel speaks during the three-day debate on the policy of the traffic light coalition in the Bundestag. Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Concrete figures for the planned basic child security are not yet available. However, the family minister is already promising that it will bring families significantly more than previous achievements.
In the opinion of Federal Minister for Family Affairs Anne Spiegel, the planned basic child security will bring added value for many families in Germany compared to previous benefits.
“The basic child security is not a new label on old services, but a paradigm shift,” said the Green politician of the German Press Agency.
What is meant is the project agreed in the coalition agreement by the SPD, Greens and FDP to introduce a basic amount for all children from birth. In addition, there should be an income-related benefit for families. The exact amount and structure of the basic child security is still being discussed. “To determine the amount, there will be a cross-departmental working group that will be set up soon,” announced Spiegel.
CDU practices strong criticism
Even before the details became known, there was already strong criticism of the plans. For example, deputy CDU chairwoman Silvia Breher recently accused the traffic light partners of announcing services for families and children that the previous government had already launched.
“I vehemently disagree with that,” said Spiegel. The traffic light government wants to bring about real change for families and “no more tinkering with a system that we know does not substantially improve the situation for children and families,” said the minister.
The basic child security is “a complex project”, there is currently still a “jungle of family policy services that no one can see through anymore”. The goal is clear: “We want the services to be available unbureaucratically, digitally and without having to run around with the authorities immediately after the birth.” According to Spiegel, families should no longer have to submit “an individual application for each service”.
The also announced immediate surcharge, which should be paid to families before basic child security, was announced by Spiegel for the “next months”. She is “in very good talks” with the Federal Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil for the exact design.