Bafög recipients should get significantly more money from the end of 2019. This emerges from a landmark paper from the Ministry of Education, which was first reported by the newspapers of the Funke Media Group. Federal Education Minister Anja Karliczek (CDU) also wants to increase the number of beneficiaries with the planned reform.

This is planned:

  • The maximum amount of the total funding should rise from 735 euros to around 850 euros per month. The individual demand rates should increase by 2020 by a total of seven percent.
  • The housing supplement for Bafög recipients who do not live with their parents should be raised from 250 euros to 325 euros. The reform is reacting to rising rents.
  • The income allowances will be raised in two steps by a total of nine percent. In this way, children from families who are currently just above the borders should also receive student loans in the future.
  • The allowance for trainees' own assets should be raised in 2020 from the present 7500 to 8200 euros in the future. Trainees who are dependent on their own children or spouses, should receive an additional allowance of 2300 instead of the previously 2100 €.
  • Anyone who has been promoted should not fear lifelong debt . Thus, among other things, the (residual) debt is to be issued, which can not pay off the loan portion of Bafög despite efforts due to bad economic conditions within 20 years.

According to the report, the bill will be approved by the Cabinet in the spring. In autumn next year, the reform should then come into force.

This is criticized:

Politicians of the Greens and union representatives consider the Bafög reform to be insufficient.

Green Housing Spokesman Chris Kühn called for "regular adjustment based on real price increases and, at the same time, significantly more investment in dormitories".

The deputy chairman of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), Elke Hannack, also ruled that the grand coalition had to "go one step further to enable students to financially concentrate fully on their studies". The reform points pointed "in the right direction", but remained behind the need, criticized Hannack.

Here students report what they spend their money on:

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8 pictures

Students about their money: "My weekends are more controlled"

The Education and Science Union (GEW) called on Karliczek to "expand and speed up the reform". In addition, the student loan should in the future be automatically adjusted to the cost of living.

GEW Vice Andreas Keller also said that he missed "any approach to structural reform" of education funding. Karliczek has "the unique opportunity to bring the run-down from their predecessor Bafög back to life".