Bertelsmann Analysis: State Participation Funds Reach Only a Fraction of Eligible Children

According to the calculations, only around 18 percent of 6- to under-15-year-olds make use of the benefit; among 15- to under-18-year-olds, it is only 12 percent. As a result, more than eight out of ten eligible recipients do not receive the monthly amount of 15 euros for social and cultural participation, as the foundation, based in Gütersloh, announced.

Data Basis and Methodology

How many children and adolescents would fundamentally be entitled to the BuT and how many actually use it cannot be precisely determined – no corresponding statistics exist. The Bertelsmann Foundation has therefore set the number of approvals in relation to the number of individuals receiving the respective social benefits and derived an estimate from this.

Regional Differences

Schleswig-Holstein performs best in terms of the sports and cultural participation allowance: there, 59 percent of those eligible make use of the benefits; in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, it is 38 percent. This puts Hamburg, together with Rhineland-Palatinate, last nationwide – while Schleswig-Holstein stands at 59 percent. In Hamburg, only nine percent of eligible 6- to 15-year-olds receive the monthly 15 euros for club memberships or music lessons.

The participation allowance, currently 15 euros, can be used for activities such as club sports, music lessons, or holiday trips. Nationwide, only around 37 percent of those eligible make use of the benefits for school meals. The communal lunch, which is actually meant to ensure a warm meal for children from poorer families, is likewise used by only around 37 percent.

One exception is the allowance for school supplies: 195 euros for school materials such as satchels, paint sets, and notebooks – split across two school terms – is received, according to the analysis, by 78 percent of 6- to under-15-year-olds whose parents receive basic income support. This amount is provided so that children can properly participate in class.

Reasons for the Low Uptake

The Bertelsmann Foundation sees bureaucratic hurdles as the main reason for the low uptake. The application procedures vary greatly from state to state – thick forms and extensive documentation requirements make applying significantly difficult for many parents. In addition, the participation allowance of 15 euros per month is often insufficient to cover real costs.

"The low uptake is not because the children have no need. Rather, the amount is small and the path to it is very cumbersome," emphasizes Antje Funcke, the foundation's expert on family policy. The Bertelsmann Foundation itself cannot explain why the differences between the federal states are so large.

The Foundation's Demands

The foundation therefore calls for benefits to be paid out in the future without an application, responsibilities to be consolidated, and authorities to be better digitally networked. The aim is to make access easier and ensure that more children and adolescents from low-income families actually benefit from the support.