The federal government has agreed on details regarding basic child security that are still open. Now the cabinet can deal with the draft and nothing stands in the way, various media report, citing government circles. The Ministry of Family Affairs has implemented the advice from other departments and the Federal Employment Agency on the relevant points.
In their coalition agreement, the SPD, Greens and FDP agreed to introduce basic child welfare. Previous benefits such as child benefit, benefits from citizen’s benefit for children or the child allowance should be bundled there. With the help of a central platform, families who have not yet accessed the money they are entitled to can also be reached.
The basic child welfare provision, which is particularly controversial between the Greens and the FDP, was actually supposed to be launched in the federal cabinet a week and a half ago. At least Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) expressed this expectation. But it didn’t make it onto the agenda. Family Ministry circles said at the time that there was still a problem with the so-called child benefit transfer and the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act. So questions about who receives benefits and how they are offset against the basic child benefit or not.
Various media outlets have now reported that the agreement stipulates that an immediate surcharge of 20 euros per child introduced during the corona pandemic will no longer apply to children of asylum seekers from 2025. FDP Finance Minister Christian Lindner had previously said: “The SPD and the Greens want to permanently pay asylum seekers 20 euros more per child per month. I do not support that.” The FDP politician warned: “The standard rates are appropriate, and we should not send the wrong signals, especially with the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.”