Prien is open to changes in parental allowance reductions and is planning family care allowance

Federal Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU) has announced changes to the planned reduction in parental allowance months. Prien told the Editorial Network Germany that after the summer's debates, she advocated "that we sit down together again and see whether the savings measures for parental allowance are effective and justified to this extent."

When asked whether it would be conceivable not to reduce the months of parental allowance from 14 to twelve, the minister said: "I'm open to that." The coalition is currently still discussing various options and is calculating them with a view to the budget situation.

According to Prien, the distribution of parental allowance months between partners could also change. “We are talking about all the possible adjustments and have not yet decided on any model in the coalition,” she said. »Above all, we need to pay more attention to the needs of parents. Shortening it to twelve months with a different distribution of the partnership months is difficult for many families to achieve.

In July, Prien drew up a draft for a parental allowance reform based on austerity requirements. This envisages a reduction in the benefit period by two months. Three months of parental allowance are reserved for each parent. The partners can share their time between themselves for another six months. According to this concept, if only one of the two takes parental leave, there would be a maximum of nine months of support from the state. The proposals met with a lot of criticism. After the elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, the coalition is discussing course corrections in various reform projects.

Criticism of the Ministry of Finance and the fuel discount

According to the family minister in the coalition, the controversial plans to cut maintenance payments for single parents are also in question. The idea was to cut support for 16 and 17 year olds, also due to austerity constraints, but the SPD no longer wants to support this. Prien sees Finance Minister and SPD leader Lars Klingbeil as responsible here. "If the SPD no longer wants any changes, then the Federal Finance Minister must provide the necessary financial resources for this," she emphasized.

Prien expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that she had to announce cuts in various places due to the Finance Minister's strict austerity requirements and had to receive criticism for this, while on the other hand there was money to reduce fuel prices. “That really annoys me,” said Prien. "The fuel discount is only a temporary measure, the effect of which will quickly evaporate." In addition, the funds would be distributed here with the watering can. "I understand if people think it's unfair that there is money for that while we cut back on maintenance advances."

Prien is planning family care allowance based on parental allowance

The family minister announced to the editorial network Germany that she wanted to present a concept for a family care allowance based on parental allowance in the first half of 2027. “We are in the middle of preparations – and I hope that the householders agree to this,” said Prien.

A wage replacement benefit is being considered for people who temporarily leave their job to care for relatives. The majority of those in need of care in Germany are cared for in a family environment at home. In the coalition agreement, the Union and SPD only vaguely stated: "We are examining how family care allowance can be introduced in the future." Last year, Prien emphasized that such a performance could only come about if the economic situation permitted it.