Federal Family Minister Prien (CDU) intends to submit her draft legislation for reforming the maintenance allowance (Unterhaltsvorschuss) to the cabinet this month. Speaking to the ARD-Hauptstadtstudio, she stated that the proposal should enter government deliberation as early as July.
According to Prien, the reform is expected to yield savings of several hundred million euros for the federal government, the states, and the municipalities. On the federal level alone, she projects a savings of 245 million euros. Prien had previously announced over the weekend her intention to achieve cost reductions within the maintenance allowance system. This allowance assists single-parent families when the other parent fails to pay child support, allowing the state to attempt to recover funds from those withholding payments-who are typically fathers.
Under Prien’s plans, the allowance will now be paid only until the child reaches the age of 16, instead of 18. The ministry estimates that approximately 80,000 children will be affected by this new regulation. Additionally, defaulting payers are set to face penalties, such as temporary revocation of their driving licenses.
Prien emphasized that the state needs to support small children, noting that “single mothers and fathers are in a situation where they cannot work full-time.” However, she added that employment at full capacity is feasible for those with children aged 16 or 17. In cases where assistance is necessary, the basic financial security for children will still be available.
Prien conceded that the savings impact families, children, and women, calling this particularly difficult. Nevertheless, she stressed that the decision was made jointly with the states. When criticized by the President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Manuela Schwesig (SPD), who described the plans as flawed, Prien responded that the decision was reached by a “unanimous consensus” among the state presidents, including Schwesig.
