Reduction in parental allowance: Family Minister Prien is considering a U-turn

dpa | Federal Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU) is giving families hope that the planned reduction in parental allowance months will not happen after all. Prien told the Editorial Network Germany (RND) that after the summer's debates, she advocated "that we sit down together again and see whether the savings measures for parental allowance are effective and justified to this extent."

When asked whether it would be conceivable not to reduce the months of parental allowance from 14 to 12 months, the minister said: "I'm open to that." The coalition is currently discussing various options and is evaluating them with a view to the budget situation.

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 any model in the coalition,” she said. "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."

In the summer, Prien drew up a draft for a parental allowance reform under the strict austerity requirements. This envisages a reduction in the duration of receipt by two months - from 14 to 12. Three months of parental allowance are therefore reserved for each parent. The partners can share their time between themselves for another six months. So if only one of them takes parental leave, there would be a maximum of nine months of help from the state. The proposals met with a lot of criticism. Since the election defeats of the CDU and SPD in the states, the coalition members have been discussing course corrections in several reform projects.

Prien expressed displeasure that she had to announce cuts due to strict austerity requirements, while suddenly there was money to reduce fuel prices. “That really annoys me,” said Prien. "The fuel discount is only a temporary measure, the effect of which quickly evaporates. But it costs a lot of money." In addition, the funds would be distributed here with the watering can.