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Berlin (dpa) - Lockdown, wearing masks, home office - the ongoing restrictions due to the corona pandemic are not only on your nerves, they often cost citizens and companies a lot of money.

The federal government now wants to help families, low-wage earners, restaurants and companies with losses.

The grand coalition has put together two packages that are to be decided in the Bundestag today.

But that is not enough for the opposition and the economy.

And the federal states are also allowed to express their opinion - probably at the beginning of March.

The Union and SPD had justified the new aid not only with the unusual burdens, such as expenses for protective masks and quick tests, for the citizens.

They should also stimulate the economy and encourage people to spend more money again.

There had already been an economic stimulus program last year - some measures worked well, others hardly, as economic researchers found out.

The following help is planned this time:

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CHILD BONUS

For every child who receives child benefit this year, there is a one-time bonus of 150 euros.

The money is paid out in May - automatically without an application.

This will cost the federal government around 2.1 billion euros.

Ultimately, however, not all parents can keep the bonus in full: In terms of tax, it is offset against the child allowance, as is child benefit.

In general, one can say: the higher the income, the less is left of it.

On the other hand, the bonus is not offset against Hartz IV and the advance maintenance payment, so low-wage earners benefit most from it.

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Last year there was even a child bonus of 300 euros.

At that time, according to a study, the measure worked better than the simultaneous reduction in VAT.

The Institute for Macroeconomics and Business Cycle Research (IMK) found out in a survey that almost two thirds of the well over four billion euros invested were used for additional consumption.

The bonus has helped where the need is particularly great, for example to pay for purchases for online lessons.

GRANT FOR BASIC SECURITY

Adults with low wages, long-term unemployed and recipients of social assistance should also receive a one-off grant of 150 euros.

The Ministry of Social Affairs justifies this with higher expenses due to the pandemic, for example for hygiene articles and additional meals at home.

The money is to be paid out in the first half of the year.

At the same time, it should continue to be quick to apply for benefits from the basic security systems - lengthy examinations will be suspended until the end of the year.

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Social organizations as well as the Greens and Left are disappointed with the one-time help.

Green parliamentary group leader Katrin Göring-Eckardt spoke of a "measly one-off payment".

The social association VdK demanded a monthly subsidy instead of a "drop in the bucket".

The Social Association Germany emphasized that other families with little money also need help.

VAT in the restaurant

The restaurants have been closed for months and the delivery business can hardly absorb their losses.

The federal government wants to give them tax support: the reduced VAT rate of 7 instead of 19 percent should continue to apply to food in the catering trade.

However, this can only have an effect if the catering trade is allowed to reopen - therefore the tax cut should also apply until the end of 2022.

So far it was limited to the summer.

The federal government expects that the restaurants and bars will save taxes of 3.4 billion euros per year.

TAX ASSISTANCE FOR BUSINESS

Companies that are making losses in the corona crisis should become more liquid through tax aid.

To a greater extent than before, they should be able to offset losses from 2020 and 2021 against profits from the previous year for tax purposes.

This reduces prepayments, for example, and without the so-called loss carry-back, you would only get back taxes paid too much later.

This does not go far enough for business associations: the sum and the period for the carry-back of losses would have to be increased significantly, eight associations recently demanded in a statement.

The federal government is currently planning an upper limit of 10 million euros, which may be offset against the previous year.

The associations criticize that many companies could hardly benefit from this for 2021 because they would not have made a profit in 2020.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210226-99-600091 / 3