The SPD plans to increase and expand the parental benefit after the federal election, said Saskia Esken, the SPD’s chair, to the “Rheinische Post” (Friday edition). “Many families are under immense pressure” she said. “Rising living costs and a parental benefit that has lost purchasing power, in addition, burden them.”
The SPD intends to change this, Esken added. “With a higher parental benefit, longer payment periods, and a clear focus on a partnership-based division of tasks, we will give parents the security they need in this decisive life phase.” This way, families will be strengthened, and a genuine relief will be created, the SPD chair said.
According to a study by the German Institute of Economic Affairs, the parental benefit has lost around 38% of its purchasing power since its introduction in 2007 and is significantly less valuable. To compensate for the inflation-induced loss of purchasing power since 2007, the minimum monthly amount of 300 euros would have had to increase to 413 euros, the study found.