Germany is set to give every single child a one-off £270 to help get the country back on its feet following the coronavirus shutdown.
A total of £114billion will be set aside as part of Chancellor's Merkel's efforts to protect families that have been financially impacted by the pandemic.
It comes as the country warned it's facing the worst recession in 70 years, with GDP expected to shrink 6.3% this year.
"We must now succeed in boosting the economy," Chancellor Angela Merkel said.
She said the fact that Germany has 7million temporarily furloughed workers "shows how fragile the situation is."
The package of support will include a cut in VAT from 19% to 16% from July 1 to December 31. There will also be incentives for electric cars - with the Government set to reimburse those who go green with £5,300.
Hospitality businesses such as hotels and pubs could also get up to 80% of their fixed operating costs reimbursed if their revenues have plunged more than 70% compared to a year ago.
And for families, a one-off €300, equivalent to £270, will be handed to each child.
Merkel said the support programme would help "the economy to find its feet and grow again" - and Spain has a similar idea.
On May 18, the Spanish Government unveiled plans to introduce a 'Guaranteed Minimum Income' to ease the pressure of coronavirus on poorer families.
Each adult under the scheme will get a monthly payment of at least £410. This can be topped up by other benefits, depending on need.
Many in favour of the scheme believe this is a step towards full Universal Basic Income, and will outlast the COVID-19 pandemic and become permanent.
Could a similar model be introduced in the UK?
The Bank of England has warned that the UK economy is heading towards its sharpest recession on record.
The coronavirus impact could see GDP shrink 14% this year, with Covid-19 "dramatically reducing jobs and incomes in the UK".
So could a one-off - or monthly payment - for all be a solution?
This week, a petition calling for a new Universal Basic Income to support UK families at risk due to Covid-19 reached 112,000 signatures.
The activists behind it argue that an emergency package should be introduced to ensure all UK residents have access to shelter and food during the coronavirus crisis.
"Doing this will reduce pressures caused by acts of desperation," the page states.
The idea of a Universal Basic Income has been toying through parliament for several years.
On March 19, a cross-party group of 170 MPs and peers wrote to the government, urging it to introduce the initiative.
They said it "would give everyone the financial support they need to provide for themselves and their families during this crisis". They expressed particular concern for the self-employed and those in “precarious” roles.
Instead, the Chancellor introduced a series of self-employed grants, small business loans and increased universal credit payments by £1,000.
The good news is that the scheme could come sooner in Scotland.
The country’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon last month spoke of plans to fast-forward any trials to help the economy recover from the pandemic.
The model would be similar to a trial in Finland, where 2,000 people were given £490 a month with no strings attached.
Charity the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) said every adult in Scotland should be given a basic annual income of £2,400, rising to £4,800. Children should be paid £1,500.
It claims the move would improve health and wellbeing while removing the stigma of receiving benefits.
But some critics say it would encourage fecklessness.
The Scottish government supports proposed trials of the system by councils in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife and North Ayrshire.
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