What is known about the universal benefit of 200 euros per month for families with children under 18 years of age

The Government of Spain wants to reaffirm its commitment to the fight against child poverty, a structural problem that affects about 30% of households with minorsaccording to the latest data from Eurostat. On the occasion of the International Day of the Rights of the Child, the Council of Ministers approved a declaration underlining the importance of ensuring that all children can develop with freedom, dignity and autonomy.

In addition to the declaration, measures are proposed such as the creation of a universal parenting benefit, an aid of 200 euros per month per child up to the age of 18proposed by the Sumar coalition and the Ministry of Youth and Children. This measure seeks to replace the current assistance system, which does not reach all families uniformly, and significantly reduce the child poverty rate.

The idea of ​​help “for everyone”

The idea of ​​universality is, without a doubt, the most important thing. All families could receive help, regardless of their income or employment status, which would eliminate bureaucratic barriers and ensure that no child is left out of social protection. Currently, many families that could benefit from tax deductions or the minimum vital income do not do so, either due to ignorance or because they do not comply with administrative requirements.

However, the first vice president and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, has pointed out the need to first evaluate existing mechanisms to avoid duplication and ensure that resources are used efficiently. According to Montero, current aid has allowed Spain to overcome recent economic crises, which shows that “the current instruments are useful, although they may require adjustments.”

And this universal benefit proposal is also framed in a European context, where Spain is among the countries with the highest risk of child poverty, only behind Bulgaria, Greece and Romania. Other Member States already have universal parenting aid, which in some cases exceeds 200 euros per month per child, and They allocate a greater percentage of their GDP to social protection of children.

It should be noted that the help It is still a proposal. There is still no regulation that regulates it, there is no parliamentary procedure that has approved it, nor is it possible to request it, since it must be included in the corresponding General State Budgets (PGE). There is also no fixed date for its entry into force.

Other measures for the protection of children

In addition to the economic dimension, the Government’s institutional declaration also addresses the protection of minors against violence and exploitation. Initiatives stand out such as the expansion of the Law for the Protection of Minors against Violence (LOPIVI) and the regulation of digital environments to prevent risks such as cyberbullying or the economic exploitation of minors.

Protection focuses especially on the most vulnerable children, including supervised minors, unaccompanied migrants and other groups at risk of exclusion, with the aim of guaranteeing universal rights without discrimination.