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Childcare allowance tipped - what does that mean for families?

Almost half a million families are affected by the change
Photo: iStock
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  1. Court decides against child support: The consequences
  2. Why is the care allowance over?
  3. Why is the childcare allowance so controversial?
  4. What do I do if I have received childcare allowance so far?
  5. What happens to the money instead?

Court decides against child support: The consequences

Almost half a million families in Germany receive childcare allowance. Now says Germany's highest court. That does not work like this. The reasons - and how it continues now with the childcare allowance

It was a tough fight to introduce it and it remained unpopular until the end, at least for most politicians: the childcare allowance. Two years ago, the CSU from Bavaria enforced that families receive 100 euros a month from the state. If they do NOT bring their one and two year old children into a state sponsored childcare. Since August last year, it was even 150 euros a month. 455, 000 families are currently receiving childcare allowance.

Yet. Because now has the Federal Constitutional Court, the highest German court, ruled: The care allowance should never have been introduced and must therefore be stopped.

Why is the care allowance over?

The court explains the stop so: It had dealt with the Federal politicians in 2013, simply the wrong people to the scheme. Because everything about social issues is usually in the hands of the countries. The federal government would only exceptionally responsible for payments around child care, if it wants to make the situation for families across Germany fairer - "producing equivalent living conditions in the federal territory" is officially.

This, judges now judge, was in the case of the care allowance can not be proven. The demand in the East, with just under 30, 000 families supported, is far below the number of times the care allowance is paid in West Germany, namely approximately 425, 000 times. In addition, only 5.4 percent of men claimed this family-friendly benefit, compared to 94.6 percent of women. A socially just distribution would indeed look different.

Why is the childcare allowance so controversial?

The care money had many opponents from the outset. The CSU had been able to get it through because it did not want to discriminate against parents who look after children at home despite having a nursery position. The two main counterarguments:

- Parents from socially disadvantaged and migrant backgrounds should actually support their children through professional care. The childcare allowance rewarded just that such children were not registered in kindergartens and kindergartens.

- The care allowance does nothing to promote a serious equality in families . Outdated role patterns like "Mom stays at home" would even be rewarded in addition.

Incidentally, the court said nothing about these two arguments, the stop was more of a formal decision.

What do I do if I have received childcare allowance so far?

Do not worry, the childcare allowance will not go away overnight, it will not work. One of the judges also pointed out that no one had to fear that the payments would be stopped immediately. The federal states and their authorities must now decide after the verdict on how long they continue to pay the money. In the best case, the maximum duration of 22 months, once granted, will continue to be paid. It is best to inquire directly with your city or municipality how things are going for you now, as this can be regulated differently everywhere. For example, Horst Seehofer of the CSU for Bavaria has already announced that the childcare allowance will remain in this state in any case.

What happens to the money instead?

For this year, money is left in the federal budget. 900 million euros were scheduled for childcare there. What will be spent for now, remains to be seen. Manuela Schwesig, the family minister (SPD) would like to spend the money in more crèche places and better child care. Whether the CDU and especially the CSU join in, we will see. Righter for all would be that.

>> A little more child support for everyone

>> Schwesig: Nobody can be a good mother

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