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Berlin (dpa) - In the November aid for companies in the partial lockdown, after widespread criticism, the first funds that are paid out may be increased.

Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) said on Thursday in the RTL / ntv program “Frühstart” that it would be checked whether the down payments could be increased in certain cases.

With a view to statements by Bavaria's head of government on Wednesday evening after consultations with the federal and state governments, he said: “Markus Söder rightly stated that in many cases these payments are insufficient for larger and medium-sized companies with ten to 30 employees. »

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Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) had also suggested improvements.

The question of whether there might be higher payments on account will be discussed, she said on Wednesday evening.

In some cases this could be “urgent”.

FDP parliamentary group vice Michael Theurer said that the down payments would have to be increased by a factor of 100 to up to 500,000 euros.

State economics ministers had also previously requested this.

Otherwise companies could get into considerable liquidity difficulties.

The November aid are grants for companies in the catering sector, for example, that had to close due to official orders.

There are payments on account - this is an advance on later payments without a more detailed examination.

So far, self-employed people have received an advance payment of up to 5000 euros;

other companies up to 10,000 euros.

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The advance payments have been flowing since November 27th, and in most cases they are already on the way, Altmaier told Wirtschaftswoche.

Those affected can indicate in their application for November aid whether they want an advance payment.

In general, the program stipulates that the vast majority of companies will receive grants amounting to 75 percent of average sales in November 2019.

Similar aid is to be given in December, which will cost the federal government billions.

The federal and state governments decided on Wednesday that the partial lockdown, which had previously been limited to just before Christmas, should be extended to January 10th.

Politicians in the black-red coalition are very critical of whether there should be “January aid” again.

There is also a federal-state dispute over a larger state contribution to corona aid.

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The so-called bridging aid III applies from January to summer.

Compared to previous programs, this aid has been significantly expanded.

The system is different from that of the November and December aid.

Fixed costs such as rent are reimbursed for bridging aid.

The head housekeeper of the Union faction, Eckhardt Rehberg, said on Thursday on Deutschlandfunk that if the November and December aid were continued until Easter, that would add up to a total of 75 billion euros.

This is not justifiable to other industries and taxpayers.

"The state will not be able to do everything," he said.

It is therefore correct to only assume the fixed costs again - as with the first two bridging aids.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201203-99-560216 / 2