Fighting child poverty - regulating basic child benefits soon on a nationwide basis
The cities of eastern Germany appeal to the traffic light coalition to agree very soon on the basic child allowance, so that child poverty is effectively combated. The cities will actively cooperate in the implementation for a family support from a single source.
The cities demand that the financial benefit for families be paid out uniformly and unbureaucratically by the federal administration. At the same time, the social and educational institutions must be strengthened locally to improve the opportunities and educational careers of children and young people. This was made clear by eastern German mayors at a conference of the German Association of Cities in Frankfurt (Oder).
Mayor René Wilke, presidium member of the German Association of Cities: "The new child basic security should become the centerpiece in the fight against child poverty. That support the cities absolutely. We need good opportunities for all children, whether in school, daycare, sports club or leisure. The basic child allowance is a significant financial benefit for families. Equally important, however, are the local social institutions, which are the point of contact for every child and every family and must be well staffed and financially equipped. The pressure to act is obvious. About one in five children now lives in families at risk of poverty and is dependent on social transfer payments. The governing parties should finally agree on the cornerstones of the basic child benefit and get the law on track. The run-up is necessary so that the new system can come by 2025."
Preparing for this administrative reform will take a lot of effort, as the federal, state and local governments will have to merge their existing social benefits for families. This includes child benefit, child supplement and standard benefits under Social Codes II and XII. And there will have to be interfaces with the advance on child support, housing benefit and the job center.
"We need family support from a single source. Families must be able to apply for the financial benefit reliably and easily, so that it reaches all families and unnecessary bureaucracy in the administration is unnecessary. The cities demand that the financial benefit for families be disbursed uniformly by the federal administration," explains Lord Mayor René Wilke.
Child poverty continues to rise, especially in the cities. Especially families with low incomes, single parents and the long-term unemployed are overwhelmed in view of the current price increases for energy and food.
Just as important for poverty prevention and good educational careers of children and young people remains the social infrastructure on the ground, makes Wilke clear: "The cities already take care of many offers for children and young people: in daycare and school, in the outpatient and inpatient youth welfare, in youth clubs and sports clubs. Children use playgrounds and sports fields, go to the swimming pool or libraries. In the job centers, young people receive advice on the transition from school to training and work. In acute crises, they and their parents receive help and support on the spot. Here the child basic safety device must strengthen beyond the financial achievements, the social structures locally and open to the municipalities clearance with the employment of the means."
To strengthen families as the smallest social unit, the round table "Future and educational opportunities for children - Active against child poverty in the city of Frankfurt (Oder)" was initiated in 2018 by Mayor René Wilke.
This is composed of professionals of existing structures of local independent sponsorship, facilities, companies and institutions of the city, employees of the city administration and the voluntary children's representative. Together, low-threshold counseling services, activities and participation formats for children, young people and their families are discussed and realized.
For example, the Frankfurt Children's Charter was developed and established within the framework of the Round Table. By respecting and upholding this urban "basic law for children", facilities, associations and institutions are continuously joining the effort to manifest child- and family-friendliness as a natural part of the quality of life.