Katarina Barley: Now the children will be at the centre of Family Policy

More money for children, less bureaucracy, quality standards – family Minister Katarina Barley says in an interview what the coalition agreement should offer to families.

Katarina Barley:   Now the children will be at the centre of Family Policy
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    Time Online: Mrs. Barley, you have negotiated for SPD coalition Agreement for Family Policy. I am a single mor and freelance journalist. How do you intend to prevent my child from growing up in poverty in new government?

    Katarina Barley: Child poverty is parental poverty, which is why we employ parents. For freelancers, very high cost of health insurance is a big issue. We want to lower m. We also want more and above all toll-free kita places. This is especially important for single-parenters in order to be able to reconcile work and children. And it saves in many families loose a few hundred euros a month.

    Time Online: That's right. But as soon as child comes to school, many single-handed people again have an existential problem, because y can eir only work a few hours in morning – or find expensive hoarding places...

    barley: ... We are also aware of this. Therefore, a legal entitlement to full-time care for elementary school students will come.

    Time Online: This is progressive. However, no fundamental reform of family policy has been adopted, which combats child poverty in long term. Family associations demand an unbureaucratic child protection of about 600 euros. But you stay with previous services for families?

    Barley: What we have now negotiated can be seen very well. There is child benefit. We would like to increase this in two steps by 25 euros. Also, we will increase or performance for parents who are working, but not enough to earn a living to secure ir livelihood...

    Time Online:... They mean so-called Children's supplement, which was introduced in 2005 with Hartz IV.

    Barley: Yes, it should be easier to apply and be increased by just under 30 euros. So far, 170 is euro. All in all, children's allowance and children's surcharge will be 399 euros – current minimum of children's livelihood. Added to this is education and part package, which is linked to social benefits (children's supplement and cost of allowance). This includes aid that we want to extend. For example, payment for lunch for schoolchildren should be discarded, as well as payment of tickets for school children. In addition, we will also clearly debureaucratize this educational and partial package. If you still add toll-free Kita and full-time school places, this is a really big package that arrives exactly where it is needed.

    Date Of Update: 09 February 2018, 12:03
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