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CDU politician calls for wage replacement for caring relatives
According to the Federal Statistical Office, there are around five million people in need of care in Germany. The vast majority are cared for at home. photo
© Jens Kalaene/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa
In Germany, five million people are dependent on care. In most cases, relatives step in. But how can the state help if the relatives have to give up their regular job to do so?
Anyone who takes a career break to care for relatives should, according to the will of the CDU health politician Tino Sorge will be better supported financially. In an interview with the editorial network Germany (RND), the health policy spokesman for the Union parliamentary group campaigned for a state wage replacement analogous to parental allowance: “Anyone who dedicates themselves to caring for those in the family should be relieved of this – especially if you are temporarily out of the house job and have no income for months,” Sorge explained.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, there are around five million people in need of care in Germany. The vast majority – 4.17 million people – are cared for at home. Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) therefore recognized the relatives in an interview with the German Press Agency recently as “Germany’s largest nursing service”.
A state care loan was introduced for her in 2015. Caregiving relatives are supposed to use it to bridge a gap of up to six months or a reduction in their working hours of up to 24 months, but they have to pay back the money later. Therefore, this tool is rarely used.
Nursing care reform increases nursing allowance
Before the parliamentary summer break, the Bundestag and Bundesrat had passed a care reform. The care allowance that is paid to those in need of care will increase by five percent from the coming year. The recipients of this benefit – which is currently between 316 and 901 euros per month depending on the degree of care – can pass the sum on to their relatives, but do not have to do so.
According to Sorge, caring relatives could receive similar state support as young parents in the future. Mothers and fathers who take a career break after the birth of their child receive parental allowance for up to twelve months, which covers two-thirds of their previous income. The background to his proposal is a position paper from the Union faction. It also calls for tax exemptions and better pensions for caregiving relatives. According to information from the parliamentary group, the paper is a draft that has not yet been agreed.