Arbeitsministerium: Regierung will organisierten Sozialbetrug stoppen

The German government aims to combat organized social benefit fraud and the exploitation of EU immigrants, according to the Arbeitsministerium. Federal Minister for Labour Bärbel Bas unveiled an action plan of various measures, set to be approved by the cabinet by September. Bas emphasized that exploitation and misuse of social benefits are unacceptable, highlighting the importance of immigration of skilled workers.

The plan targets abandoned properties or dwellings that are rented out to social benefit recipients at high rents, often involving organized structures. Authorities will have easier ways to deal with such properties, including renovation obligations, expedited purchase rights, and in extreme cases, confiscation if owners fail to modernize or repair.

Measures against over-crowding, renting of uninhabitable housing, and false addresses are also planned. Job centers will receive information about uninhabitable properties or false addresses to assess whether housing costs for basic income recipients should continue. Data sharing among social, foreigner, registration, finance, security, and construction authorities will be expanded, with potential use of AI-driven analysis systems to detect misuse.

Employers will face stricter liability if they fail to report employees correctly, leading to unjustified social benefits payments. The plan was developed with input from local governments and aims to be approved by the federal cabinet in September, with implementation completed by the end of the year.