Basic child support
Basic child protection refers to a form of family benefit equalization for children that is under political discussion in the sense of a transfer benefit to secure their livelihood. Depending on the model, it is designed as an income-related benefit or as an unconditional basic child benefit .
The child should have its own legal right, regardless of the type of family in which it lives.
Elements of a possible basic child protection
Child as bearer of its own legal claim
Securing the subsistence level for children is also a topic of political relevance in industrialized countries, also in connection with an increase in child poverty in industrialized countries .
There are several concepts that allow children to have their own income, such as a citizen's benefit or an unconditional basic income . In contrast to these concepts, concepts for basic child protection are a service that should not include adults, but should only be applicable to children and young people.
Recognizing children as having their own legal right is also the basis of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child . The Federal Republic of Germany has been a party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child since April 5, 1992. The ratification document deposited with the Secretary General of the United Nations on March 6, 1992, however, contains a number of declarations of reservation by the Federal Government.
Income-related or unconditional basic security
Services for children are structured differently in different countries; as monetary benefits are direct payments (eg child benefit ) or tax allowances (eg a child allowance ).
An alternative form of tax relief discussed in Germany but not implemented would be a basic child allowance , which would first and foremost affect the tax liability for a possible income of the children and only secondly would apply to the income of the parents. Conversely, a needs-based, income-related basic security would allow low-income families in particular an additional transfer benefit. An unconditional basic security, which would take the place of tax exemptions and, depending on the implementation, would also replace child benefit, would mean a transfer benefit that would be independent of the income level.
The combination of child benefit and child allowance, which has been implemented in Germany since 1989 until today (2017), means that taxpayers who pay high income tax may receive a higher benefit than would be the case with child benefit alone. This can be justified on the assumption that parents with high incomes would be expected to spend more on their children than parents with low incomes, and that the amount of tax liability should be based on actual expenses. The net effect is that high-income families can receive a higher perk.
Financing families versus financing childcare infrastructure
In order to ensure that the basic needs of children and young people are met, there is not only the financing of families but also the option of financing the social infrastructure , in particular the care infrastructure and benefits in kind or vouchers such as education vouchers .
The care and educational infrastructure includes kindergartens, crèches, day-care centers, after-school care centers, but also all-day schools, as well as z. B. Libraries, youth work, as well as support programs, for example compensatory education .
In Germany, Hartz IV abolished aid, for example for school supplies and clothing. A social debate has sparked in Germany about the financing of school books by parents.
A comparable question of subject support versus object support also arises with models for an educational salary .
Concepts of basic child protection in Germany
background
Following the judgment of the Federal Constitutional Court of November 10, 1998, the legislature has had to take into account the need for childcare since January 2000 and the need for education since January 2002.
According to this case law of the Federal Constitutional Court, the child allowances can be omitted in the case of a basic child benefit of the same amount, since the effect of the exemptions exceeds the subsistence level.
However, the current implementation is controversial in terms of distribution policy. In a publication in the online family handbook, for example, the Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband stated that the "fact that the tax justice logic within the family burden equalization is no longer accepted, according to which the relief has to increase with performance or with the individual tax burden", and it finds "the The logic of tax law, according to which the tax relief is proportional to the tax paid and thus proportional to the income, is no longer accepted within the family burden equalization, as it actually opens up the income gap between very high-earning and medium- and low-income families. "
Other positions relate to the effect of allowances on tax progression as well as the performance principle and the idea of a basic child allowance (see child allowance ).
Absolute amount of transfer payments
In the political discussion, models of basic child protection must stand up to comparison with the status quo of support for socially disadvantaged families. When considering the necessary amount, the assumed amount of the necessary subsistence level must also be taken into account.
In Germany, socially disadvantaged families are currently entitled to benefits under Book Two of the Social Code , child allowance and the education and participation package.
Politically discussed basic child protection models
The basic child security is or was as a replacement for the SGB II standard requirement as well as the reform of the family burden and benefit equalization. The basic child security is also discussed to the effect that it could represent a complete or partial replacement for the existing family burdens and benefits equalization in Germany (tax regulations such as child benefit and child allowances and, in a broader sense, childcare allowance, the recognition of parental leave in the pension insurance and family insurance in statutory health insurance).
The introduction of a basic child benefit is intended to improve distributive justice . In the existing situation, the progressive relief effect of the family benefits and burden compensation primarily relieves recipients of higher incomes.
To finance this, it is proposed to set up a family fund, which bundles all family-related monetary benefits. A possible reduction in spouse splitting is also discussed in this context, for example by the Zukunftsforum Familie eV . Such counter-financing based on the model of the Greens was analyzed by the DIW and also by the IAB .
Models of the Greens
In the discussion before the introduction of parental allowance, the Greens called for basic child benefits. According to their concept, the basic child benefit should represent a supplement to child benefit for low-income families. She should top up the child benefit to the subsistence level of children. The housing benefit should remain unaffected and, if necessary, be granted additionally. Households whose own resources are below the subsistence level for social assistance should receive the full amount of a fixed amount per child. Income above this should only be partially offset, so that the funding gradually decreases with higher income. So there would be a positive incentive to earn a living largely by oneself, which does not exist with social welfare due to the so-called guillotine effect.
An analysis using microsimulation showed that especially typical risk groups such as families with several children, single parent households and households with economically inactive people would receive a child benefit supplement.
Another model of the Greens provides for a basic child security in place of the tax deductions but to meet the requirements of the Constitutional Court to grant an unconditional and thus income-independent child security, i.e. without a gradual decrease in higher incomes. This model would have the additional advantage of a strong standardization of the monetary transfer payments
Other models
The German Trade Union Federation (DGB), SPD and Die Linke also advocate a basic child protection model.
The model of the left provides for three consecutive steps: (1.) an increase in child benefit and an expansion of the child benefit supplement for low-wage earners and the needy, (2.) the determination of a shopping basket for the calculation of the socio-cultural subsistence level of children for the purpose of adjusting child benefit and supplement and (3.) the anchoring of a needs-based basic child benefit that replaces the child supplement as an individual entitlement.
Model of the alliance for basic child benefits
The Alliance Children basic security , a coalition of 15 associations and organizations such as the Workers 'Welfare Association (AWO), Workers' Samaritan Federation Germany eV (ASB), Bundesforum Men eV, German Society for Systemic therapy, counseling and family therapy (DGSF), German Child Protection Association eV (DKSB), Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk eV, Deutscher Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband - Gesamtverband eV, Union for Education and Science (GEW), Church District Jülich , Pro Familia Bundesverband eV , Naturfreunde Deutschlands eV , Association of Single Mothers and Fathers eV, Association of Working Mothers eV (VBM), Volkssolidarität Bundesverband eV , Zukunftsforum Familie eV (ZFF) and thirteen scientific supporters have been calling for an income-dependent basic child security of 637 euros (2020) per month up to the age of 18 since April 2009.
The required amount is based on the socio-cultural subsistence level established by the Federal Constitutional Court, which is published in the Federal Government's subsistence level report: the actual subsistence level of 417 euros and a care, education and training requirement (BEA amount) of 220 euros. The model predicts the children basic security to a variety of child and family-related benefits - child benefit , social benefit , child benefit , child tax credit , child maintenance payments and parts of the education and participation package - replace. The basic child security should be subject to the parents' income tax in the respective progression, so that very well-earning households receive a basic amount of approx. 300 euros according to the model of the alliance. The exemption from the child's subsistence level is thus preserved.
At the same time, the introduction of individual taxation with a transferable basic allowance, which is to replace the splitting of the spouse, is intended to help finance the transfer payment. The central demand of the alliance is to recalculate the child's subsistence level, on which the basic child benefits should be based. This subsistence level must also include the need for education and participation. A prerequisite for more equal opportunities is, in addition to the introduction of basic child benefits, an education and upbringing system that leaves no one behind. The federal, state and local governments must finally create a free, high-quality education system. According to the alliance partners, the new model would be less bureaucratic, more transparent and more socially fair than the previous family benefits.
financing
Important considerations are financial requirements and financing proposals for the individual models.
The Greens proposed to (co-) finance basic child security by capping the splitting of spouses. According to the Greens, a report by the DIW confirms that the basic green child protection scheme is “effective, inexpensive, socially just financially viable and immediately implementable”. A total annual volume of around 3.6 billion euros can be expected, with savings effects in social welfare making the net financing requirement around one billion euros per year. The Greens' long-term goal is a living monthly child benefit; Basic child security should be a first step towards this, which should specifically benefit those who are materially most disadvantaged - this is every fourth child in Germany.
The model of the alliance for basic child benefits is also to be financed largely from the dismantling of spouse splitting and the previous family benefits.
criticism
It is criticized that the problem of child poverty is not solved by a basic child benefit. The central conflict between parents and parents about reconciling family and work and thus avoiding family poverty also persists. Critics point out that an unconditional basic income for children would compete with other measures in terms of the use of the available financial resources, particularly measures in the care and education sector.
Even proponents of a basic child benefit point out that it is doubtful that a child benefit would fundamentally change the children's situation if measures to improve the living situation of the parents were not taken at the same time.
credentials
- ↑ "More opportunities for families" - parity concept for a fair and future-oriented family burden equalization ( memento of the original dated December 19, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Der Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband, Online Family Handbook, November 29, 2001 (accessed December 9, 2007)
- ↑ Additional child benefit for poor parents - Federal Ministry of Family Affairs examines basic child benefits as a substitute for social assistance ( memento of the original from February 28, 2005 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (accessed December 9, 2007)
- ↑ Basic child benefits - position paper of the board on material family policy ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Zukunftsforum Familie eV, Family Policy Association, August 4, 2005 (accessed December 9, 2007)
- ↑ Calculation of the green basic child protection model and its counter-financing through a real splitting of the spouses (PDF; 218 kB), Birgit Otto, C. Katharina Spieß , Dieter Teichmann, DIW final report, June 5, 2001 (accessed December 9, 2007)
- ↑ Central results of the IAB report: “Fiscal costs and number of service recipients”, “Fiscal costs and incentive effects of the Green Basic Security” ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , AG Social Security, October 1, 2007 (accessed December 9, 2007)
- ↑ a b c d Basic child security - A green concept against child poverty , Alliance 90 / The Greens in the Bundestag / compact & handy 14-17 (accessed on December 9, 2007)
- ↑ Combating child poverty through needs-based basic child benefits, Ekin Deigöz, Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen, February 3, 2001 (accessed December 9, 2007)
- ↑ A green concept against child poverty ( memento of the original from January 18, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Ekin Deligöz, Thomas Poreski , Gesundheit Berlin eV, October 13, 2004 (accessed December 9, 2007)
- ↑ a b The socio-economic consequences of an income-dependent child benefit supplement: a microsimulation of the “Green Basic Child Protection” , Birgit Otto, DIW discussion papers, May 15, 2003 (accessed December 9, 2007)
- ↑ A basic security for the children ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Thea Dückert, Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen, October 5, 2007 (accessed December 9, 2007)
- ↑ A basic security for the children , Thea Dückert, Die Zeit online, September 27, 2007 (accessed December 9, 2007)
- ↑ Die Linke welcomes the DGB's demand for basic child protection ( Memento of the original from November 4, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Forward online, April 13, 2007 (accessed December 9, 2007)
- ↑ With us, the little ones make it big - the social democratic basic security for children. Retrieved December 19, 2019 .
- ↑ Children need more. Cornerstones of LINKEN basic child protection (short version) ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Die Linke, June 20, 2006 (accessed January 12, 2008)
- ↑ Child poverty has consequences. Retrieved May 13, 2020 .
- ↑ Child poverty has consequences. Retrieved December 19, 2019 .
- ↑ Press release: Alliance calls for 500 euros basic child benefits. (PDF; 344 kB) (No longer available online.) April 14, 2009, archived from the original on April 19, 2009 ; Retrieved April 19, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Social alliance demands basic security for children. April 14, 2009, archived from the original on April 17, 2009 ; Retrieved April 19, 2009 .
- ^ E.g. Richard Hauser: Alternatives to basic security - social and economic aspects. In: Journal Society Economy Politics. Vol. 55, 2006, pp. 331–348 ( online summary and full text (PDF; 114 kB) ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. ).
- ^ Anne Lenze: The constitutionality of the standard benefit for children , lecture (published by the Tacheles editorial team on November 26, 2008)
