According to Deutschlandfunk, the Bundestag has held its first reading on plans to pay child benefit automatically without requiring an application. Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) said the reform sounds small but would improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of families. In the future, parents could receive child benefit automatically and without bureaucracy.
The Greens and the Left Party broadly welcome the plans. The reform is intended to save families the need to visit government offices and to close the payment gap that arises when parents forget to apply or apply too late. Details on implementation and the timeline are still pending.
Source: www.deutschlandfunk.de
