A working group comprising representatives from the federal, state, and municipal levels is currently advising on potential savings within the social welfare sector, according to the publication Spiegel. The discussions concern benefits for people with disabilities as well as support and funding for children and young people who require assistance.
A 108-page “book of proposals” completed at the end of March, contains over 70 specific ideas aiming to achieve savings of at least 8.6 billion euros. For example, the peak associations of local government urge that maintenance allowances should be granted only to individuals under the age of 13 and for a maximum period of 72 months, which would save one billion euros. Furthermore, there are several suggestions regarding school assistants and educational integration aides, including calls for their complete abolition, amounting to potential savings of three billion euros.
Joachim Rock, managing director of the Paritätischer Gesamtverband, stated that this proposal constitutes “an attack on achievements that are essential for social participation and which have been fought for over decades”.
