The education and participation package (BuT)
Equal opportunities right from the start
Difficult financial circumstances of families and a lack of opportunities for the children of these families to participate are closely linked. However, local authorities have effective tools at their disposal to support families and children and mitigate some of the consequences.
Why is it important to promote education and participation?
Being at risk of or affected by poverty affects the whole family. In addition to the immediate difficulties in meeting everyday needs and the associated tensions within the family, poverty severely restricts children's social participation and educational opportunities.
In 2024, 23.3% of all children and young people under the age of 18 in North Rhine-Westphalia were at risk of poverty (source: IT.NRW, State Statistical Office, microcensus results). The gap between families and those without children is wide: single parents (45.9%) and multi-child families (33.2%) are particularly at risk of poverty.
Poverty as a risk factor
For children and young people, growing up in poverty has a significant impact on the further stages of life in addition to the deprivation and restrictions (source: German Institute for Interdisciplinary Social Policy Research, 2023):
- If there is no money for leisure activities, the opportunities for participation are severely restricted.
- Sports, music, culture and other activities are not only important for young people to grow up well, but also for their chances of a self-determined life.
- Where there is a lack of money for educational opportunities, educational opportunities in daycare centers, primary and secondary schools are not used.
- Disadvantages arise that can only be compensated for later with great challenges.
However: No child should be disadvantaged. Everyone should have the same opportunities to grow up well. The benefits from the education and participation package (BuT) contribute to this.
BuT benefits and legal basis
The education and participation package was introduced in 2011 to create a material basis for equal opportunities for children, adolescents and young adults whose parents are dependent on certain state transfer payments.
Legal basis for entitlement
- Citizen's allowance pursuant to Sections 7, 19, 28, 29 SGB II
- Social assistance pursuant to Section 34 SGB XII
- Child supplement or Housing benefit pursuant to Section 6b of the Federal Child Benefit Act (BKGG)
- Asylum seeker benefit pursuant to Section 3 of the AsylbLG
The special needs solution case provides for families who do not fall under the standard needs. § Section 3 of the AsylbLG
The special needs solution stipulates that families who do not fall under the standard requirements are also entitled to BuT benefits in accordance with Section 34a (1) sentence 2 SGB XII if certain educational and participation needs of the child cannot be fully covered.
Benefit components
- School and daycare excursions, school trips
- School supplies package
- Pupil transportation
- Learning support
- Lunch
- Participation in social and cultural life in the community
Utilization of BuT benefits
The use of benefits from the education and participation package is not systematically recorded across all entitlement bases. As the data on the recipients of the individual BuT benefits are also recorded and processed differently, they are only comparable to a limited extent. However, the existing data basis indicates that these benefits are only claimed by some of those entitled to them. Further information on current studies can be found here.
The large number of agencies involved and different legal entities in the context of BuT reflect the complexity of the topic. A general assessment of the use of BuT benefits is therefore not possible. Regardless of this, it is undisputed that there is potential to increase take-up and thus reduce the risk of poverty.
The North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Family Affairs would like to use a package of measures to ensure that more families receive the benefits of the BuT package and to enable targeted further developments at municipal and state level.
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