SPD rejects reduction in maintenance advance

The SPD rejects Federal Family Minister Karin Prien's (CDU) proposal to reduce the state's maintenance advance for young people. This emerges from a proposal that the SPD Federal Presidium wants to adopt this Monday, reports the Editorial Network Germany (RND). At the same time, the party proposes changing the rules for those liable for maintenance.

On the one hand, the SPD suggests adjusting the seizure exemption limit so that fewer people liable for maintenance are considered insolvent. The seizure exemption limit is the amount that debtors still have to secure their subsistence level despite the collection of maintenance payments. In addition, the limitation period for reclaims should be significantly extended. The decision states that three years are too short given the reality of many proceedings.

The SPD also wants to focus on assets. Anyone who registers new vehicles, boats or real estate in their name despite significant maintenance debts must expect government restrictions. In the future, maintenance debts should also be reported directly to Schufa, which provides third parties with information about people's creditworthiness.

SPD wants to change criminal law

The SPD also advocates tightening criminal law. In Section 170 of the Criminal Code, the so-called jeopardy clause is to be deleted, so that a maintenance debtor can no longer go unpunished simply because the other parent or the state has averted the child's financial hardship.

“We want to increase the pressure on those in default of maintenance, expand state capacity for recourse and make procedures significantly more efficient,” says the SPD resolution. Children and young people should not be punished because a parent refuses to take responsibility.

Maintenance advances should only be paid until the age of 16

Federal Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU) wants to reform the law on maintenance advances and reduce the age of children who are entitled to a maintenance advance from 18 to 16 years. In addition, the pressure on defaulting payers, especially fathers, should be increased, said Prien. This could happen, for example, “by making it possible to impose driving bans during the administrative procedure” – i.e. not first through legal proceedings, but earlier through the responsible authority.

Government spending on maintenance advances has increased dramatically in recent years. In 2025, it cost the federal and state governments a total of 3.2 billion euros if they stepped in to replace parents who were not able to support their children themselves. Only 18 percent of this - less than 600 million euros - was recovered from the defaulting parents last year.