Illness is the most common reason for over-indebtedness for the first time - Witten/Herdecke University calls for stronger prevention

For the first time since official surveys on the main causes of over-indebtedness began, "illness, addiction or accident" is the most common cause of private over-indebtedness in Germany. This is shown by current data from the Federal Statistical Office (DESTATIS) for 2024: at 18.1%, the proportion is even higher than unemployment ( 17.4%). Prof Dr Eva Münster, holder of the Chair of General Practice and Primary Care in Vulnerable Populations at the Institute of General Practice and Primary Care (iamag) at Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H), sees this as an alarming signal - and a task for society as a whole.

"A serious illness affects many people in two ways: health-wise and financially," explains Prof Münster. "The associated financial burden has so far been recognised far too little - in research, in care and in politics."

The figures from the Federal Statistical Office confirm what those affected have been reporting for years: Anyone who falls seriously ill quickly slips into financial grade. Reasons include loss of income, coupled with loan payments during longer periods of illness, and high co-payments for medication or rehabilitation measures.The spectrum of illnesses suffered by those affected covers the entire range of medical diagnoses - from joint and spinal diseases (e.g. a severe slipped disc) to mental illnesses (e.g. depression) and cancer and circulatory system diseases (e.g. heart attack).

Research is lagging behind

"We know that illness can lead to over-indebtedness - but we know far too little about how exactly this happens," emphasises Münster. Although the category "illness, addiction or accident" is included in the over-indebtedness statistics, there is a lack of differentiated scientific findings on the exact mechanisms, such as the role of certain diagnoses or mental illnesses. The effects of shame, social disruption or digital consumption patterns have also hardly been researched.

The subgroup of addictions in particular is not shown separately in the statistics because there is no data available - a circumstance that can lead to social stigmatisation persisting. In order to counter this distorted perception, the UW/H has commissioned Neele Kufeld, a young researcher with psychological and medical expertise, to analyse the connection between addiction and over-indebtedness on the basis of evidence.

Above all, Prof Dr Eva Münster is calling for a change in strategy: "We don't need more reaction, but more targeted research and evidence-based prevention measures based on this. Anyone who receives a serious diagnosis must also be informed and supported about financial risks at an early stage." How exactly this should be done needs to be considered in detail in order to determine the right time and the right measure.

Further information: You can find the latest figures from the Federal Statistical Office here: https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Einkommen-Konsum-Lebensbedingungen/Vermoegen-Schulden/Tabellen/ueberschuldung.html