Parents’ Sanctions: Government Claims Children are “Comprehensively” Protected OR New Benefits System: Stricter Sanctions for Parents Spark Child Protection Concerns

The German government maintains that the stricter sanctions outlined in the new “Bürgergeld” (basic security) system pose no significant threat to children, even if parental benefits are completely revoked. This assurance comes amidst sharp criticism from the Green Party, who warn of potentially devastating consequences for vulnerable families.

According to a response from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs to a request for information from the Green Party – a document obtained by Stern – officials do not share the assessment that the new regulations will have substantial negative impacts on children. The ministry cites various protective mechanisms in place to mitigate potential harm.

However, the opposition is fiercely critical, with some even labeling the new sanctions regime a “social policy scandal.” Concerns center on the potential for increased hardship and the disproportionate impact on children.

Green Politician Dzienus: the Children Always Suffer

The Federal Cabinet recently agreed on a new basic security system designed to replace the existing “Bürgergeld.” This reform introduces significantly harsher sanctioning possibilities. Immediate benefit reductions are possible for violations of requirements and repeated missed appointments at job centers could lead to complete benefit cancellation. Welfare and social associations have voiced warnings about the plans, fearing they will exacerbate social hardship and negatively affect children.

The Labour Ministry insists that the potential effects on children were considered during the drafting of the legislation. “The Federal Government believes that children and young people are comprehensively protected both in the event of reduced benefits for a parent and under the new regulations regarding non-reachability after three consecutive missed appointments,” the ministry stated in its response.

So that even in the event of a complete loss of benefits due to repeated unreachability, protections are ostensibly in place.

Green Party member of parliament, Timon Dzienus, remains unconvinced. “When you sanction parents, the children always suffer ” Dzienus told Stern. He pointed to the fact that 1.8 million children are already receiving basic security benefits, and one in three people utilizing food banks are minors. “No child should grow up in poverty, and no child deserves to be sanctioned by their own government. This is a social policy scandal.”

Government Points to “Protective Mechanisms”

The Labour Ministry, under the leadership of Minister Bärbel Bas of the SPD, defends its position by highlighting several “protective mechanisms.”

Specifically, the ministry states that only the standard allowance for the capable and entitled individual who committed the violation or missed the appointment will be reduced. “The standard allowance for children and, if applicable, other parents in the household will not be reduced.”

no reduction will occur if it would constitute an “unreasonable hardship.” This could be the case if the reduction would have “intolerable consequences for other people in the household – especially children.”

If the complete loss of benefits occurs due to an individual’s unreachability, the costs of accommodation will be distributed among the remaining members of the household and paid directly to the landlord. “The benefits for other family members will continue to be paid without reduction,” the ministry added.

The planned “Bürgergeld” reform, which still requires approval from the Bundestag, has drawn criticism from trade unions, social and welfare associations. The welfare organization Awo, for example, warned that one in three sanctions affects households with children and that 100 percent sanctions should be avoided.

Dzienus also condemns the plans. “All Friedrich Merz can do is sanction,” Dzienus said, launching a broadside against the opposition leader. “The Chancellor seems very talented at harassing the population. Otherwise, explain why the Federal Government apparently does not care that children will also be affected by the sanctions.”