Matthias Anbuhl, the head of the German Students’ Union (DSW), criticizes that students receiving BAföG are financially left behind even further.
“Despite the recent increase, BAföG is chronically behind: behind the orientation values for child support, behind other state benefits, and behind the development of rents, prices, and incomes” he told the Spiegel.
The difference is most evident in the comparison to the guidelines for child support. For the heating costs of students living outside of their parental home, 440 euros are budgeted, whereas the BAföG’s housing cost allowance is only 380 euros. The guideline for the additional child support needs of studying children is 550 euros, while the BAföG’s basic needs are only 475 euros.
While other state benefits like the social security, housing allowance, or pensions are regularly adjusted, “often years go by with zero adjustments” at BAföG, despite inflation, according to Matthias Anbuhl. He demands the next federal government to take action, “so that BAföG-supported students do not have to feel like second-class citizens anymore.