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IFF Report Finds Illness the Leading Driver of Over‑Indebtedness in Germany

The study says most debt problems stem from life crises rather than personal misconduct.

Overview

  • Health problems account for 17.6% of counselling cases, with unemployment or reduced work at 15.3% and separation or divorce at 9.1%.
  • The analysis covers more than 213,000 cases from around 120 debt‑counselling centers between 2013 and 2024, including nearly 32,000 in 2024, and is non‑representative.
  • Singles, single parents, and people without a school‑leaving qualification are most at risk, and 51.2% of 2024 counselling clients lived alone.
  • Rising housing costs, income poverty, and failed self‑employment intensify the financial fallout of life shocks identified in the report.
  • Among those seeking help, the median disposable income is about €990, 44.5% proceed to insolvency, and the median counselling duration in 2024 was 124 days.