Planned reform | U-turn on parental allowance cuts?

Federal Minister for Family Affairs Karin Prien (CDU) Photo: Christoph Soeder/dpa Berlin.  Federal Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU) apparently wants to re-examine the reform of parental allowance. After the summer debates, she advocated "that we sit down together again and see whether the savings measures for parental allowance to this extent are effective and justified," Prien told the Germany editorial network. 

When asked whether she could imagine maintaining the benefit period of 14 months, the minister replied: "I'm open to that." The coalition is currently still discussing various models. “We have to calculate them and see what savings we can achieve with a more moderate reform.”

Like all ministries, Prien's department must make savings. In the summer, a draft for a parental allowance reform was drawn up under the strict austerity requirements and submitted to the other departments for approval. Family benefits are by far the largest item in the ministry's budget. 

According to Prien, the distribution of parental allowance months between partners could also change. “We are talking about all the possible adjustments and have not yet decided on a model in the coalition,” she said, adding: “Above all, we have to pay more attention to the needs of the parents. Shortening it to twelve months with a different distribution of the partnership months is difficult for many families to achieve.

According to the current plans, the maximum benefit period should be shortened from 14 to twelve months and the so-called father's months should be increased. At the same time, however, the amounts should increase slightly. According to the draft, three months of parental allowance are reserved for each parent. The partners can share their time between themselves for another six months. The plans met with a lot of criticism.

Since the recent electoral defeats for the CDU and SPD in the federal states, the coalition partners have been discussing course corrections in various reform projects. The government is also questioning the controversial plans to cut maintenance advances for single parents.

Prien expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that she had to announce cuts in various places due to Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil's (SPD) strict austerity requirements and was criticized for this, while on the other hand there was suddenly money to reduce fuel prices. “That really annoys me,” said Prien. 

»The fuel discount is only a temporary measure, the effect of which will quickly evaporate. “But it costs a lot of money,” complained Prien. In addition, the funds would be distributed here with the watering can. »I understand when people find it unfair that there is money for this while we cut back on maintenance advances.«  Agencies/nd

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