Erfurt (dpa/th) - In view of high inflation and an impending explosion in energy costs for private households, Thuringia's Social Affairs Minister Heike Werner (left) supports the proposal for an increase in child benefit. For a certain period of time until the planned introduction of basic child security, this could be a way to relieve families, Werner told the German Press Agency. Future relief packages would have to be tailored precisely and families with children would have increased expenses in view of inflation. Werner also called for energy money for recipients of Hartz IV benefits.
The aim of the Berlin traffic light coalition is to introduce basic child security and thus to bundle the previous financial support services for children from the state. Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) had set the goal of paying out basic child security from 2025. She had also spoken out in favor of an increase in child benefit in order to help low-income families in the face of inflation.
In view of the price development, Werner expressed concern about social cohesion. "I do believe that social peace is at risk," she said. During encounters on her summer tour, she learned that old people, for example, were afraid of not being able to pay their energy bills. "The costs are increasing for people, others are making terrible profits from the crisis. That does something to people."
