- New increase in Bafög beneficiaries in Thuringia
Last year, the number of BAföG recipients in Thuringia increased again. A total of 25,269 people received BAföG, according to the Thuringian State Office of Statistics. This was an increase of 4.8 percent compared to the previous year.
The number of students, pupils, and students receiving support under the Federal Training Assistance Act decreased until 2019 and has been steadily increasing since 2020.
In 2023, 19,899 students and 5,370 pupils received BAföG. Compared to the previous year, the number of supported pupils decreased by 6.9 percent, while the number of supported students increased by 8.5 percent.
A total of 129.4 million euros was spent on BAföG in Thuringia in 2023. This was 21.9 million euros, or 20.4 percent, more than the previous year, according to the office.
The average funding amount was 602 euros per person per month, 50 euros more than in 2022. Pupils received an average of 468 euros per month, 20 euros more than the previous year, while students received 632 euros, 51 euros more.
A total of 3,778 people received the maximum funding amount, with 70.4 percent of them being pupils. Compared to the previous year, the number of pupils receiving full funding decreased by 4.1 percent. Among students, the number of those receiving full funding increased by 5.5 percent to a total of 8,108 people, representing 40.7 percent of all supported students.
26.8 percent of BAföG recipients lived with their parents. In the previous year, this figure was 25.2 percent.
The rise in BAföG recipients in Thuringia has led to a need for more comprehensive social policies. With the increase in funding, it's essential to ensure these funds are effectively utilized for the benefit of the students and pupils.
The current surge in BAföG recipients and the subsequent increase in funding underscores the importance of regular reviews in our social policy to accommodate these changes and address the evolving needs of the students and pupils.
