SPD Pushes for Greater Barriers Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic
Lars Klingbeil, the SPD General Secretary, has called for an expansion of the BAföG (Federal Training Assistance Act) in light of the ongoing crisis. In an email to Zeit-Online, Klingbeil emphasized the need for a permanent and crisis-proof BAföG system that reaches the middle of society.
Klingbeil believes that not only should the amounts of BAföG be increased, but also the circle of those eligible should be broadened. He specifically highlighted the need to raise the income threshold for parents' income in the context of BAföG. However, he did not provide details on how the expansion of BAföG will be financed.
The current situation has left many students in a difficult position, with the disappearance of their part-time jobs and a lack of funds. Klingbeil stated that BAföG no longer reaches the middle of society, as the number of BAföG recipients has been decreasing for years.
In addition to his views on BAföG, Klingbeil also supported the new corona aid for the self-employed, which was decided on by the federal government. This new aid will help many cultural creators, who will receive an operating cost allowance of 25 percent of their average turnover from December 2019 to June 2020. A self-employed person who made around 35,000 euros in annual turnover in 2019 could potentially receive up to 5,000 euros from this aid.
Klingbeil's latest views on BAföG and the new corona aid for the self-employed were shared with Zeit-Online. While the specific changes to BAföG that Klingbeil is advocating for are yet to be detailed, it is clear that he is committed to ensuring that students and self-employed individuals are supported during these challenging times.
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