Germany Faces Over €5 Billion in Unpaid Child Support Claims

The government struggles to recover funds as the state steps in to cover unpaid child support obligations.

The German government has accumulated over €5.1 billion in unpaid child support claims as of December 31, 2023.
Under the child support advance program, the state provides financial support to children when obligated parents fail to pay, with efforts to recover the funds later.
Recovery of these funds is hindered by a lack of information on the financial status of many debtors, making enforcement uncertain and slow.
Critics, including FDP lawmaker Martin Gassner-Herz, argue that the government’s collection efforts are insufficient and unfair to taxpayers covering the shortfall.
The Family Ministry acknowledges the challenges in recovering the funds, citing the lengthy and complex nature of the process, with only about 20% of claims recovered annually.