"They always say it doesn't matter where you come from. But it does matter where you come from," says 17-year-old Mert. Another legislative period has come to an end. And the problem of child poverty has become bigger rather than smaller. Experiences of poverty in childhood have an impact on education, health and career opportunities. One in five children in Germany grows up in poverty - with very poor future prospects. The problem has been known for decades, as have solutions. But they cannot find political majorities: the basic child benefit that has been demanded for years has failed, as has the abolition of the spousal allowance, which represents a major disadvantage especially for single parents. The consequence of this: the state pays billions for family policy benefits, but our society is nevertheless becoming more and more divided between rich and poor. And the risk of poverty for children and young people is increasing from year to year. 15-year-old Kilia is used to doing without many things. Her mother is a single parent and lives on unemployment benefits - after burnout and sudden hearing loss due to overwork. The monthly budget is not enough for the cinema, concerts, the outdoor pool or Kilia's hobbies. "I save the most on clothing, and I buy special offers on groceries. We can just about make ends meet, but as soon as something like the washing machine breaks down, it's no longer enough," says Tanja H. Anyone who has less than 60% of the average income is considered poor, that's the definition. It can happen quickly that someone gets into financial difficulties: illness, job loss or separation. More and more children whose parents work in the low-wage sector are also affected. Like Tanja H., every second single parent in this country now lives below the poverty line. Kilia's mother has to apply for subsidies for expenses such as school trips so that her daughter can even go along. A subsidy for Kilia's graduation trip was rejected, now Tanja H. has to ask again. "It starts with the fact that you submit different applications to different places. It's often about 20 euros a month, and you feel like you have to submit 50 applications for it." The system of public subsidies is complicated. "The federal government calculates the budget in such a way that it assumes that half of those affected will not apply," says Heinz Hilgers of the German Child Protection Association. In order to eliminate child poverty and cushion the effects of poverty, something would have to be done at different levels. The federal government is therefore facing a complex challenge. The Story asked the parties what solutions they want to tackle after the federal election. Because child poverty is a structural problem, not a private one. ???? If you liked this video, give us a like! ______ ???? If you would like to support the non-profit associations and organizations mentioned in the article, please contact the editorial team at: [email protected]. ______ ???? A film for The Story by Renate Werner and Anke Bruns This film was produced in 2021. All statements and facts correspond to the status quo at the time and have not been updated since then. ______ ???? More documentaries in the ARD Mediathek: http://www.wdr.de/k/doku_mediathek Other documentaries on the topic: ???? Hartz IV children: We're not poor, we just don't have any money - • Hartz IV children: We're not poor, ... ???? Secondary school - and then? (1/4) - • Secondary school - and then? (1/4) WDR documentary ???? Secondary school - and then? (2/4 )- • Secondary school - and then? (2/4) WDR documentary ???? Secondary school - and then? (3/4) - • Secondary school - and then? (3/4) WDR documentary ???? Secondary school - and then? (4/4) - • Secondary school - and then? (4/4) WDR documentary ???? Why do children get into psychological difficulties? - • Why do children get into psychological distress... ???? Working on the streets: Athens refugee children - • Video ______ #childpoverty #federalelection #WDRDoku #HarztzIV #childbasicsecurity