SPD party leader Lars Klingbeil criticizes in the “Bild am Sonntag”: “I think it is unfair to only relieve the burden on families with very high incomes. The working middle class in particular, i.e. those who get up every day, work hard to earn their income and also look after their children, neighbors and the club, should be relieved.”
It is precisely these people who are still feeling the effects of inflation, emphasizes Klingbeil. “That’s why it’s completely clear to me that families with small and medium incomes also have to get more this year.”
Because of the increase in citizen’s allowance for children in January, Finance Minister Lindner wants to increase the child allowance, on which parents do not have to pay tax, from 6,024 to 6,612 euros in 2024. The Federal Ministry of Finance does not plan to increase child benefit, which was last raised from 219 to 250 euros in January 2023.
“There will be no majority” for Lindner’s plans
Protest also comes from the SPD parliamentary group. Financial expert Michael Schrodi announces resistance: “The SPD will not go along with that. There will be no majority for such plans from Lindner.”
According to Schrodi, increasing the child allowance will increase the tax relief for parents with very high incomes per child to a maximum of 377 euros per month. “That’s an increase of 23 euros. A corresponding increase in child benefit is mandatory,” said the SPD representative.
What Lindner (FDP) is planning is an austerity program in the wrong place: “If there are 380 million for additional relief for the richest parents, then he also has the money for an increase in child benefit.”
“Families in the middle must not go away empty-handed”
If child benefit were to increase in line with the additional relief from the child allowance, there would have to be nine euros more per month. That costs 1.5 billion, of which the federal government would have to cover 600 million.
There is also protest from the Greens. Group deputy Andreas Audretsch explained: “Families in the middle must not go away empty-handed.” It is common practice to increase child benefit and child allowance equally. “Citizens rightly expect this reliability.”
According to figures from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, the child allowance is claimed for 3.8 million children (22 percent). Around two million children (11 percent) live on the citizen’s benefit rate. For the largest group of 11.7 million children (67 percent), only child benefit is paid as state support.