The major socio-political project for basic child security is getting its first contours – even if the key points that Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) sent out on Thursday still leave many questions unanswered.

The paper, which is available to the FAZ, contains many statements on the fact that state benefits for children should be increased and more families and their children in need of support should be reached.

But the minister did not explain what the project will cost.

Intensive debates in the departmental coordination are expected, among other things, about the amount of the planned "needs-based additional amount".

Katja Gelinsky

Business correspondent in Berlin

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The Ministry of Family Affairs sees a great need for modernization when recalculating the subsistence level for children: "In the future, the standard needs should be more closely aligned with the household expenses of the middle of society than before," says the key issues paper , such as for electricity, repair work, which are awarded to children, are to be renewed.

The basis of basic child security will be the so-called guaranteed amount, which should be available for all children regardless of their income situation.

From 2025 onwards, it should at least correspond to the child benefit that will then apply – currently it is 250 euros for each child.

However, this is only the first step: "In perspective", the guaranteed amount should correspond to the maximum relief effect of the tax allowance for children of currently 354 euros.

This is justified by the claim of distributive justice.

Who bears the costs?

In addition to the guaranteed amount, a need-based additional amount is provided as an "instrument for preventing and combating poverty".

The approval period is twelve months.

It is not yet clear up to what income level the benefit can be applied for.

Accordingly, there is still no information on the maximum total amount of the additional amount.

Among other things, it is envisaged that it will contain a flat-rate allowance for child accommodation in accordance with the current subsistence level report – currently 120 euros.

The relationship to housing benefit has yet to be clarified.

In addition, "a sufficiently high lump sum for education and participation in social and cultural life" should be included.

Currently, 15 euros per month are provided for this.

The basic child security should be given priority over the citizen’s income, which has replaced “Hartz IV” since the beginning of the year.

If the parents receive citizen benefit, their children automatically receive the maximum additional amount of basic child security, unless the benefit has to be reduced by the child's own income.

A tricky point in the design is the avoidance of false incentives.

So that more work and a higher income are worthwhile, the additional amount should decrease more slowly as income increases.

Restrictions on basic child security are planned for the "export" of cash benefits abroad: The additional amount is designed in such a way that it does not have to be granted to EU citizens whose children do not live in Germany, in accordance with European law," says the key issues paper.

"An unreasonable use of the guarantee and additional amount should be avoided."

It is still unclear what costs the federal government will bear for basic child security and what burdens the federal states and local authorities will have to bear.

The "Quantification" sub-working group of the inter-ministerial working group, which is supporting the project, is dealing with these questions.