Katharina Günther-Wünsch, the Family Senator for Berlin (CDU), has strongly criticized the plans proposed by her party colleague and Federal Minister for Family, Karin Prien, regarding potential cuts to the child support subsidies (Unterhaltsvorschuss). Speaking to the “Tagesspiegel”, Günther-Wünsch asserted that children should not be the victims if one parent fails to meet their responsibilities. Therefore, she views the consideration of limiting the subsidy payments to children aged 16 as particularly questionable.
Nevertheless, she fully supports implementing stricter penalties for parents who refuse to pay support. According to Günther-Wünsch, the majority of those who fail to comply are fathers, and if current measures prove insufficient, further effective actions must be taken. The Berlin Senate explicitly backs the suggestion to revoking drivers’ licenses from non-compliant parents. Furthermore, the Senate administration suggested that asset seizure, such as vehicles, and data matching with job centers should also be explored. However, Senator Günther-Wünsch insists that these measures should go even further, calling for the quicker applicability of substitute custodial sentences.
Data from the Senate Administration for Education, Youth, and Family indicates that last year, 47,344 children and adolescents in Berlin received child support payments. The total expenditure for both the federal government and the state reached approximately 182.1 million euros. While the Senate administration stated that the specific financial relief resulting from capping benefits at age 16 cannot currently be quantified, the recently paid amounts for the age group facing potential benefit cessation can offer insight. Last year, 6,060 adolescents aged 16 and 17 in Berlin received the child support subsidy from single parents, with total payments amounting to about 28.6 million euros-of which 17.2 million was paid by the state. Despite collecting nearly 27.1 million euros last year, which represents only 14.88% of the subsidy payments made, the state ultimately retained approximately 155 million euros in subsidy payments.
