The reasons

Children are dependent on their parents. If they earn little money or are dependent on welfare, there is not much left for the children. Even the child benefit that every family is entitled to is offset against Hartz IV rates, for example.

The most common reason for child poverty in Germany is that parents are unemployed. Even single parents often do not have enough money available. Because they cannot find sufficient care options for their child, they can only work part-time and quickly end up below the poverty line. In addition, child poverty is more common in families with three or more children, especially if only one parent is employed.

Other causes of child poverty: Parents with a migration background and parents with a low level of education have difficulties in the labor market and earn little money or receive unemployment benefits.