The Minister of Health and Labor Catherine Vautrin detailed, in an interview with Parisian Saturday August 2, several measures to fill the hole of 13 billion euros created each year by social fraud in France.
Before requesting an unprecedented effort of 43.8 billion euros from the French, as part of the 2026 budget, the government wants to show that it will also go and seek money in the pockets of fraudsters.
In a river interview with the newspaper The Parisian, The Minister of Health and Labor Catherine Vautrin has unveiled a series of measures supposed to recover – a party, according to her own admission – of the 13 billion euros that the cost every year “Social fraud”, According to figures from the High Consulting of Public Finances. The government intends to harden the control and repression of those who try to illegally escape social security contributions or to benefit unduely social benefits, via a bill which will be presented this fall. “Social fraud is a betrayal of those who contribute to finance our social model, this is a major issue”explained Catherine Vautrin in the columns of Parisian.
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Prohibition of cumulation between “illicit income and services”
In order to “Facilitate control of social benefits beneficiaries”the government wishes “That social security funds have access to the entire heritage of the beneficiary, for example its properties, banking data or life insurance, in order to ensure that it does not have unconvolved income”first announced the minister. Once the fraud has been identified, the idea is also “To improve recovery capacities on unemployment benefits”. “We will be able to request the reimbursement of all of the sums unduly received, which was not possible today for the return to employment assistance system, for example”. And if that is not enough, “We can also recover the money due by debit the fraudster bank account ”detailed Catherine Vautrin.
Fraud at sick leave will also be particularly targeted by the government. “We are studying the National Health Insurance Fund to establish a penalty for those who divert the system and weaken it”explained the minister.
A system that the government intends to couple to another flagship measure: the impossibility for the holder of a foreign bank account (excluding European Union) to be paid the unemployment allowance on this account. “It’s a bit complicated to look for work in France when you don’t live there!”she justified, taking up a measure proposed by Gabriel Attal in 2023.
Also completed the payment of social assistance to individuals convicted of drug trafficking, according to the minister. “We will prohibit the accumulation between illicit income and unemployment benefits. The money must be reimbursed ”she said. Today, for a worried trafficker, at “Illicit income worth 100,000 euros, social security can only recover 9,200 euros for the CSG”. “With a 45 %rate, we will recover 45,000 euros”promises Catherine Vautrin.
“Inquiring anonymously”
Training organizations “Funded by public money”as well as “Sanitary transport vehicles” will also be the subject of special control. Regarding the former, according to the minister, the text presented this fall will give control agents the power “To investigate anonymously to detect fraudulent professional training, those which do not really give access to training”. As for the latter, “We will [les] force to acquire a geolocation device and an electronic integrated billing system, in order to guarantee the accuracy of the billed kilometers. It is a necessary transparency element ”defended the minister.
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Companies that practice hidden work or do not pay their social charges may also be seen “Block their bank accounts during the control period to prevent them from organizing their insolvency as soon as they realize that an investigation is underway”said the minister.
Does such a bill have a chance to be adopted? “Without a majority, I have no guarantee. But all parliamentarians want to end fraud ”estimated Catherine Vautrin. “I will study each proposal. My method is dialogue and compromise ”. Appointment is made in the fall.
