Investigation Called for by AfD Over Child Benefits Transfers Worth €650 Million Overseas in 2024
In a recent statement, René Springer, the social policy spokesman of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), has raised concerns about the high proportion of child benefits paid to foreign families residing in Germany. According to Springer, the five European countries with the most children living in Germany who received child benefits from Germany in 2023 are not specified in the available search results. However, a report shows that Poland had the most recipients with 171,000, followed by Romania, the Czech Republic, Croatia, and France. In total, around 313,000 children living abroad received German child benefits in 2023.
The AfD sees the high proportion of child supplement payments going to foreign families as a fundamental flaw in the system. Springer argues that this demonstrates the federal government's failure in migration policy. He claims that if foreigners in Germany can only make ends meet by supplementing their income with social benefits, immigration is a loss-making business for Germany.
Springer further states that foreign recipients are overrepresented in the child supplement benefit category, receiving more than twice their share of the general population. He suggests that tying entitlement for foreigners to clear requirements, such as a valid residence permit and several years of employment, could address the high proportion of child supplement payments going to foreign families.
The total child supplement expenditure shows that 49% of the payments were received by foreign families. This represents a significant increase of around €125 million from the previous year. In fact, the figure for child benefit payments to children living abroad has risen more than 1,700% since 2010.
In response to this report, the AfD is demanding an overhaul of Germany's child benefit system. Springer labels the immigration of 'low-skilled foreigners' and calls for an end to it. He argues that the federal government's failure in migration policy is demonstrated by the high proportion of child supplement payments going to foreign families.
Springer suggests that Denmark's approach to entitlement for foreigners, which requires a valid residence permit and several years of employment, could serve as a model for reform. The AfD believes that such reforms are necessary to ensure that Germany's social benefits are distributed equitably and sustainably.
The demand for reform comes at a time when the German government is under pressure to address mounting concerns about immigration and social welfare spending. The AfD's call for change is likely to spark further debate and discussion about the future of Germany's child benefit system and its implications for migration policy.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
