Laumann proposes removing children from citizen's income system
North Rhine-Westphalia's Labor Minister Karl-Josef Laumann proposes excluding children from the Bürgergeld welfare system to better incentivize parents to work. Children would instead receive standard child benefits directly. This forms part of the CDU's plans ahead of the 2025 federal elections.
Karl-Josef Laumann, Labor Minister in North Rhine-Westphalia and a CDU politician, has proposed a plan to remove children from the Bürgergeld system. The Bürgergeld, which replaced Hartz IV regulations in 2023, currently includes benefits for adults and children in need-based communities. Laumann argues that incorporating children into the calculation reduces incentives for parents to seek employment.
"Children should no longer be part of the Bürgergeld system," Laumann stated in an interview with ZEIT. Instead, families would receive the standard child benefit claim, paid independently of parents' income. This proposal aims to simplify the system and make poverty alleviation more effective by motivating parents through higher net earnings from work.
The suggestion is incorporated into the CDU/CSU's draft election program for the September 2025 federal elections. It occurs amid ongoing debates on social reforms in Germany. Critics may worry that it could create gaps in support for disadvantaged families, but Laumann emphasizes that child benefits suffice and the system would become fairer as a result. Implementation would require changes to the Social Code and depends on election outcomes.
Background: Bürgergeld was introduced to better protect those in need, including children in low-income households. Laumann's initiative reflects the conservative approach of tying benefits to labor participation.