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Berlin (dpa) - The grand coalition has launched the Corona grant for recipients of basic security, the child bonus and other help in the pandemic.

According to the government, corresponding drafts will be called for the first time in the Bundestag this week.

The regulations were decided by the coalition committee of the Union and the SPD last week.

The Corona grant of 150 euros will be given to adults who are entitled to unemployment benefit II or social benefits in May 2021.

Social Protection Package III also provides for the current simplified access to basic social security to be extended.

Assets of up to 60,000 euros should be spared from the start, and the level of housing costs is not checked.

For poorer students, the omission of communal lunch should be compensated.

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Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) said: "People in particular need of help are hit particularly hard by the long-term measures and now need concrete support."

The measures should strengthen social cohesion in the country.

The coalition also launched a one-time surcharge of 150 euros on child benefit.

This bonus should be given to every child who is entitled to child benefit in at least one month in 2021.

A similar bonus had already been given last year to boost the purchasing power of families.

In the same law, the coalition regulates tax breaks for companies and the catering trade.

The reduced VAT rate of 7 percent will apply to meals in restaurants and cafés by the end of 2022.

This already applies because of the pandemic, but is now being extended significantly due to the ongoing closings.

In addition, the coalition enables companies to offset losses from the Corona years 2020 and 2021 more extensively with profits from the previous year.

The tax loss carry-back will be doubled to 10 million euros.

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It was also initiated that special rights of the government should continue to apply in the «epidemic situation of national scope».

Otherwise they end on March 31st.

Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) had already announced the extension - otherwise financial aid and more flexible regulations for care and health would have to end.

"Like the test regulation and the vaccination regulation, they are linked to the determination of the epidemic situation."

It is clear: only the Bundestag can determine and end the exceptional situation.

The bills were launched on Tuesday in a fast-track process.

They were passed by the Federal Cabinet in a circulation procedure as a formulation aid for the coalition groups.

After these laws have been introduced in the Bundestag by the parliamentary groups of the Union and the SPD, the first reading in plenary will take place this week.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210209-99-369655 / 3

Results of the coalition committee 3.2.2021