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LIVING IN GERMANY

These are the changes families in Germany need to know about in 2020

Whether it’s proving that children are vaccinated against measles or higher maintenance payments for parents, here are some law changes to look out for in Germany.

Published: 22 January 2020 15:34 CET
Updated: 22 January 2020 17:40 CET
These are the changes families in Germany need to know about in 2020
Photo: DPA

Maintenance payments go up for children

Divorced or separated parents in Germany now have to pay more maintenance for their children after changes to the so-called Düsseldorfer Tabelle (Düsseldorf table), which regulates child support, came into force.

Depending on the age of the child the rates have increased by €15 to €21 per month for parents who don't live with their child.

In Germany all children are entitled to child support. If the parents live separately the parent where the child lives provides maintenance in the form of shelter and support, while the other parent has to pay cash.

This is how much children of divorced or separated parents can receive:

  • Children under the age of six should receive at least €369 (instead of the previous €354) from 2020 and from 2021 at least €378 per month from their parent.
  • Children between six and eleven years of age are entitled to €424 (instead of the previous €406) and that will rise to €434 from 2021.
  • For older children aged 12 to 17, the minimum monthly maintenance is now €497 from 2020 (an increase of €21) and that will go up to €508 from 2021.
  • The rates for older children still living at home and under the age of 25 increase only slightly: from €527 to €530 for the lowest income group. 

In 2018 and 2019 the requirement rates for children over the age of 18 remained unchanged. In contrast, the requirement rate for students who do not live with their parents will rise significantly from €735 to €860 this year.

Other payments for children

The Kinderzuschlag (children's supplement), which is intended for parents with low income who live with their children (under 25-year-olds), rose to €185 per month at the start of the  year.

And, as of January 1st, the upper income limits for the child supplement were abolished. This is intended to expand the amount of families entitled to the child supplement.

READ ALSO: Kindergeld: What you need to know about Germany's child support payments

Parents who don't wish to receive child support can also receive a tax exemption called a Kinderfreibetrag.

This year it rose by €192 per child to €5,172 for parents assessed together, otherwise to €2,486 per parent. In addition, there is a tax-free allowance for childcare and education or training needs. This amounts to €2,640. The two allowances are added together to determine the income tax deduction.

Compulsory vaccination

Measles vaccinations will become compulsorary this year. Photo: DPA

For better protection against measles, the Bundestag has passed a law making a vaccination compulsory. From March 1st, parents will have to prove that their children have been vaccinated before admitting them to daycare centres or schools.

For children who are already attending daycare or school, proof must be provided by July 31st, 2021. Fines of up to €2,500 are to be imposed for violations.

Parents can prove that their children have been vaccinated either with a special certificate, a yellow examination booklet or a medical certificate if the child has already had measles. If this does not happen, the institutions has to report this to the health authorities.

READ ALSO: What's changing in Germany throughout 2020

Day-care fees abolished

As a result of the Good Childcare Act (Gute-Kita-Gesetz) many federal states are reducing the costs for daycare facilities. From this year childcare in the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is now free of charge.

Berlin became the first state to abolish pre-school fees in 2018.

READ ALSO: How each German state plans to lower childcare and Kita costs for families

More money for students

The BAföG (Germany's Federal Training Assistance Act for students at secondary schools and universities) allowance increased from €735 to €861 per month from the start of this year – more students will continue to be eligible in a bid to create more equality.

This change will not only please BAföG recipients, but also many parents who support their studying children. The recent increase in the tax-free amount, flat-rate allowance for basic needs and maximum support rate is part of the new BAföG regulations, which already resulted in students and pupils receiving more money in 2019.

From autumn 2021 when further changes are planned, 100,000 more pupils and students will be able to benefit from the state's training assistance.

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LIVING IN GERMANY

Living in Germany: Battles over Bürgergeld, rolling the ‘die’ and carnival lingo

From the push to reform long-term unemployment benefits to the lingo you need to know as Carnival season kicks off, we look at the highlights of life in Germany.

Published: 14 November 2022 09:54 CET
Living in Germany: Battles over Bürgergeld, rolling the 'die' and carnival lingo

Deadlock looms as debates over Bürgergeld heat up 

Following a vote in the Bundestag on Thursday, the government’s planned reforms to long-term unemployment benefits are one step closer to becoming reality. Replacing the controversial Hartz IV system, Bürgergeld (or Citizens’ Allowance) is intended to be a fair bit easier on claimants.

Not only will the monthly payment be raised from €449 to €502, but jobseekers will also be given a grace period of two years before checks are carried out on the size of their apartment or savings of up to €60,000. The system will also move away from sanctions with a so-called “trust period” of six months, during which benefits won’t be docked at all – except in very extreme circumstances. 

Speaking in parliament, Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) said the spirit of the new system was “solidarity, trust and encouragement” and praised the fact that Bürgergeld would help people get back into the job market with funding for training and education. But not everyone is happy about the changes. In particular, politicians from the opposition CDU/CSU parties have responded with outrage at the move away from sanctions.

CDU leader Friedrich Merz has even branded the system a step towards “unconditional Basic Income” and argued that nobody will be incentivised to return to work. 

The CDU and CSU are now threatening to block the Bürgergeld legislation when it’s put to a vote in the Bundesrat on Monday. With the conservatives controlling most of the federal states – and thus most of the seats in the upper house – things could get interesting. Be sure to keep an eye out for our coverage in the coming weeks to see how the saga unfolds. 

Tweet of the week

When you first start learning German, picking the right article to use can truly be a roll of the “die” – so we’re entirely on board with this slightly unconventional way to decide whether you’re in a “der”, “die”, or “das” situation. (Warning: this may not improve your German.) 

Where is this?

Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Boris Roessler

Residents of Frankfurt am Main and the surrounding area will no doubt recognise this as the charming town of Kronberg, which is nestled at the foot of the Taunus mountains.

This atmospheric scene was snapped on Friday morning, when a drop in temperatures saw Kronberg and surrounding forests shrouded in autumnal fog.

After a decidedly warm start to November, the mercury is expected to drop into single digits over the weekend. 

Did you know?

November 11th marked the start of carnival season in Germany. But did you know that there’s a whole set of lingo to go along with the tradition? And it all depends on where you are. First of all, the celebration isn’t called the same thing everywhere. In the Rhineland, it’s usually called Karneval, while people in Bavaria or Saxony tend to call it Fasching. Those in Hesse and Saarland usually call it Fastnacht. 

And depending on where you are, there are different things to shout. The ‘fools call’ you’ll hear in Cologne is “Alaaf!” If you move away from Cologne, you’ll hear “Helau!” This is the traditional cry in the carnival strongholds of Düsseldorf and Mainz, as well as in some other German cities.

In the Swabian-Alemannic language region in the southwest of the country, people yell “Narri-Narro”, which means “I’m a fool, you’re a fool”. In Saarland at the French border, they shout “Alleh hopp!”, which is said to originate from the French language. 

Lastly, if someone offers you a Fastnachtskrapfe, say yes because it’s a jelly-filled carnival donut. And if you’re offered a Bützchen? It’s your call, but know that it’s a little kiss given to strangers!

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