The Audit Court Federation expresses its criticism towards the two-tier system of fundamental child protection.
According to media reports, the Federal Court of Auditors (FCOA) has spoken out against the two-phase approach to child basic security, favored by Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens). As reported by the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" ("FAZ") on Friday, the FCOA reviewed the proposed initial phase. A significant aspect of this is the "child basic security assessment". The FCOA audit report, as quoted by the newspaper, expresses "concerns about the real effort and gain" linked to the child basic security assessment.
The family offices at the Federal Employment Agency (FEA) are supposed to evaluate if families are eligible for the child supplement through this assessment. However, the necessary funds are not yet secured. "The federal budget for 2025 does not allocate funds for the preparation and implementation of child basic security," the report states. The FCOA views "cross-subsidies" through unemployment insurance contributions, for example, as "invalid".
As long as funding from the budget is not available, the FCOA suggests that preparatory work for the first stage of child basic security in 2025 "should be postponed", the "FAZ" adds from the report.
This is a consultative report by the FCOA on the FEA's preparations for child basic security, which reportedly was submitted to the Budget Committee of the Bundestag. A representative from the FCOA declined to comment on the report, stating that it must first be debated in parliament.
The establishment of child basic security has been a points of contention within the federal government in recent months. The FDP and its finance minister, Christian Lindner, have repeatedly criticized the green flagship project, particularly the proposals for a new authority to administer it.
Paus has recently advocated a phased introduction of child basic security in two stages. This is intended to strengthen existing family policy benefits, including child benefit, citizens' income, child supplement, or housing benefit. The specific implementation of child basic security is currently under discussion in the Bundestag.
The FCOA expresses concerns about the effectiveness and value of the Basic Child Benefit assessment in the context of the proposed first stage of child basic security. Despite the family offices preparing for the assessment at the Federal Employment Agency, the necessary funding for 2025 has not been allocated in the federal budget.
