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Federal Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus
Photo: IMAGO/Leon Kuegeler/BMFSFJ/photothek.de / IMAGO/photothek
Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) has signaled a willingness to talk in the dispute with Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) over the financing of the basic child benefit. "We are now in the process of taking a closer look at the figures," said Paus in an interview with the Düsseldorf-based "Rheinische Post". She had always said that she was ready to talk. It is crucial "that in the end the concept is right and that there is a reliable figure," said the Green politician.
More than one in five children in Germany is at risk of poverty. The basic child benefit is intended to reach more families and bundle benefits. At the federal level, the basic child benefit has been causing a dispute within the traffic light coalition for months. Paus announced an additional financial requirement of twelve billion euros per year from 2025. Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) considers this to be clearly too high.
At the request of the »Rheinische Post«, she did not want to repeat the twelve billion euros she had originally demanded. I haven't personally communicated this number, but I haven't denied it either," Paus said. Regarding the costs, the politician said that it would cost "five billion euros alone" if "families actually receive all the benefits to which they are entitled." According to her, only about 35 percent of those entitled to the child allowance would currently take advantage of the child allowance.
She also wants the subsistence level for children to be redefined. "It would be desirable for the children's subsistence level to be more oriented towards the middle of society."
On Friday, the youth and family ministers of the federal and state governments met in Potsdam. You have spoken out in favour of a rapid introduction of a basic child benefit. "It's about developing a service that covers the child's subsistence level in line with their needs," said Brandenburg's Minister for Family Affairs Ursula Nonnemacher (Greens) at the end of the conference. The project must be "implemented quickly".
Paus commented positively on the decision. "We bring the children into the middle of society with the basic child benefit," she explained in Potsdam. The basic income is intended to "improve the situation of poor children, uncover and remedy hidden poverty and make life easier for all families".
From 2025, the basic child benefit is to replace various benefits such as child benefit and child allowance. This should lead to more people who are eligible for the payments receiving them. Today, this is often not the case because families do not know their rights or the application process is too complicated.
kim/dpa/AFP