Katja Kipping, CEO of the Paritätischer Gesamtverband, has argued for a stronger enforcement approach against those who fail to pay child support, prompted by the plan to eliminate supplemental child support benefits for 16- and 17-year-olds. Speaking to RTL and ntv’s program “Frühstart” on Thursday, Kipping stated that “the entire range of measures must be utilized.”
She highlighted the current short statute of limitations-three years-and called for longer deadlines as well as nationwide structures, suggesting a kind of centralized collection agency or debt collection system. Kipping emphasized that some parents genuinely cannot pay, but others refuse to pay, falsely claiming financial hardship.
According to Kipping, the proposed budget cuts would disproportionately affect single parents, who already face immense difficulties. She pointed out that this usually concerns mothers who must manage the daily struggles of childcare while juggling multiple responsibilities. Many of these mothers are working but must still take sole responsibility for their children, typically needing to apply for supplementary social benefits. Kipping criticized the proposed end of the benefit at age 16, noting that children incur costs even after that point. She concluded by stating that the state is the strongest actor and thus has the duty to enforce payment against defaulters.
