Bavaria waives child entry allowance – what does that mean for families?

Bavaria waives child entry allowance – what does that mean for families?

The discussion about child start-up allowance in Bavaria is current again after the Bavarian Family Minister Ulrike Scharf praised the planned model. She saw this as a valuable source of support for families. But contrary to anticipation, the Söder government has decided not to introduce the child start allowance, which provided for a one-off payment of 3,000 euros for the first birthday of newborns from January 1, 2025. Instead, the funds should be invested more in the expansion and maintenance of daycare places, which is considered necessary by many sides. How BR reports, the child start-up allowance was originally planned to replace the previous Bavarian family allowance and crèche allowance from 2026.

Although the child start-up allowance is no longer applicable, the existing family system remains in place: parents of one- and two-year-olds who were born before January 1, 2025 still have to make do with family allowance of 250 euros per month per child; from the third child onwards, the amount increases to 300 euros. In addition, low-income families receive up to 100 euros in crèche benefit per child per month. Federal benefits such as monthly child benefit of 255 euros per child up to their 18th birthday also remain in effect; from January 2026 this amount will increase to 259 euros.

Reactions from society

The decision to cancel the child start-up allowance is not well received everywhere. While daycare providers such as Caritas and AWO support increasing operating cost support, there is a fear that these measures should not come at the expense of families. In addition, the Bavarian State Parents' Advisory Council criticizes the end of the child start-up allowance and calls for real financial relief by reducing daycare fees. Offers such as maternity pay, maternity benefit and parental allowance during parental leave, which can amount to up to 1,800 euros per month, remain unchanged.

For many families, the reality remains that they are dependent on government benefits. Single parents or families with low incomes also have the opportunity to apply for further government support such as maintenance advances or child allowances to make ends meet. A healthy future for children and optimal conditions in crèches and daycare centers are undisputedly important cornerstones in the discussion about fairer family support.

Domestic peace for pets

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