According to the 10th Family Report, the risk of poverty for single parents in Germany is three times higher than that of men and women in a partnership. This was presented by Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) on Wednesday and reported on by the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 1.7 million single parents with minor children lived in a household in 2023 – that is one in five families. To draw attention to the situation of single parents and present the government with suggestions, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMSFJ) commissioned an expert commission two years ago to deal with the group of single parents and separated parents and their children. The result: single parents in Germany are exposed to special burdens.
According to the expert commission, women with children in the household earn less money, receive less pension, and have a higher risk of poverty throughout their lives compared to men. Moreover, single parents in Germany have a three times higher risk of poverty than people in partnership families. These living conditions often lead to health problems for single mothers and fathers, which also affect the well-being of the children in a negative way.
The expert commission sees various approaches: for example, financial independence and shared parental responsibility in life should be promoted. The government should offer choices, enabling parents to better arrange the care of their children after a separation or divorce, and simplify the application for transfer benefits and access to social financial, existence security, and debt counseling offers, as single parents often are in debt.
Furthermore, it would be important to provide a nationwide and high-quality childcare system. “Single parents in particular are dependent on a reliable childcare system to be economically independent” said Paus to the Süddeutsche Zeitung. Only those who can rely on the kindergartens can also go to work. “With the kindergarten quality law, we are supporting the responsible states in this and the coming year with a total of four billion euros – for a high-quality care and sufficient staff” Paus said, adding that this would particularly benefit single parents.