Since the introduction of the education and participation package in 2011, children and young people from low-income families have been entitled to financial support for school and extracurricular activities. The package includes, for example, the cost of school trips, membership in a sports club or learning support. Despite this support, however, it happens that parents and children do not know exactly which benefits they can apply for and how to fill out the application correctly.
The German government has therefore decided to simplify the implementation of the education and participation package. As of 1. From August 2021, applications for participation in school and extracurricular activities are to be submitted centrally to the job centers for all federal states. This is intended to avoid unnecessary hurdles such as different application forms and deadlines for families.
But the simplification does not only concern the application process. The settlement of benefits for providers of school and extracurricular activities will also be made easier. In the future, they will be able to settle their benefits directly with the job centers instead of with the families, as was previously the case. This should also help more children and young people to benefit from the services of the education and participation package.
The education and participation package plays an important role in ensuring equal opportunities for children and young people. Simplified implementation should ensure that support reaches those in need more quickly and in a more targeted manner. The reform is an important step toward providing the best possible support for children and young people, regardless of their social background.
Education and participation package to be simplified
The education and participation package is a financial support for children, adolescents and young adults from families with low incomes. The aim is to promote education, participation in social and cultural life, and social integration, among other things. In the past, applying for the package was often very complicated and confusing. This is now changing with a simplified application process and faster processing of applications.
The new method for applying for and paying out the education and participation package is particularly advantageous for families with little time and resources. Applications can now be submitted online and processing is expected to be completed within six weeks – this is a significant improvement on the previous waiting time. In addition, there will be fewer bureaucratic hurdles in the future, so that the support will reach the recipients faster and more effectively.
The main aim of the education and participation package is to ensure educational opportunities for all children and young people, regardless of their social background. The aim is to ensure that every child has the same opportunities to develop their abilities and interests. The funds can be used for school supplies, tutoring, class trips, music lessons or even sports club membership fees. This is an important measure to combat social inequality and exclusion and to give every child a fair chance of a successful future.
Thanks to the innovations in the education and participation package, more families will now be able to benefit from financial support. It will also be made easier for those who may have previously found the application process too cumbersome and time-consuming to apply for and receive financial support for their children.
Why is the education and participation package getting easier??
The education and participation package is a state offer for families with low incomes to enable their children to access education and participate in social life. For a long time, the application procedure was complicated and time-consuming, which meant that many families concerned did not even claim the benefits in the first place.
To counteract this problem, the education and participation package has now been simplified. The application for benefits can now be made online and the information on income and assets is calculated in a more flat-rate manner. This is intended to reduce the bureaucratic burden on affected families and to make it easier to claim the benefits.
- The innovations at a glance:
- Online application possible
- Flat-rate calculation of income and assets
- Easier to use for families
The simplification of the application procedure is intended to help more families take advantage of the education and participation package and thus support their children in their education and enable them to participate in social life.