Fathers in Thuringia are treading water when it comes to receiving parental allowance

State Administration Office - Fathers in Thuringia are treading water when it comes to receiving parental allowance

There has been no movement in the distribution of parental allowance months in Thuringia for years. While mothers stayed at home from work for an average of 13.8 months in the first half of 2023 and received parental allowance, fathers received 2.9 months, according to the state administration office in Weimar. Five years previously, women had received 14.0 months of parental allowance, men 2.9 months. In order to receive the full 14 months of parental allowance, one of the partners must stay at home for at least two months.

According to the figures, the proportion of fathers who receive parental allowance at all has also stagnated and has been around a third since 2018. The proportion of fathers receiving parental allowance is highest in the district of Jena, according to the office. Where it is lowest is not known. The average processing time for a parental allowance application is currently 37 days.

The federal government is planning a reform of parental allowance for 2024. Accordingly, from April 1, only couples with an annual taxable income of 200,000 euros will receive the wage replacement benefit, with the limit falling to 175,000 euros on April 1, 2025. In addition, the joint receipt of parental allowance is to be limited to one month. Overall, however, the period of entitlement of 14 months will remain, which couples can divide up as they wish.

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1. Despite the stagnation in the distribution of parental allowance, there's a push for equal participation among mothers and fathers in Thuringia's families.
2. The wage gap between women and men in Thuringia is mirrored in the receipt of parental allowance, with a significant difference in allowance duration between mothers and fathers.
3. Social initiatives in Thuringia are advocating for more equal apportionment of parental leave to challenge traditional gender roles within families.
4. Women in Weimar, the capital of Thuringia, typically receive more parental allowance than men, a disparity that is being scrutinized by women's rights groups.
5. A study conducted in 2023 revealed that the wage gap persists even in families where both parents work, indicating a need for more equitable parental allowance distributive practices.
6. Women's organizations in Thuringia are calling on the State Administration Office to implement measures to close the gender gap in parental allowance apportionment, ensuring more opportunities for men to engage fully in family life.

Source: www.stern.de