A report released by the German Federal Audit Court (BRH) has flagged a significant financial shortfall looming for the Social Care Insurance (SPV) system, projecting a deficit of €12.3 billion by 2029. The report, presented to the Bundestag’s budget committee ahead of upcoming budget deliberations, highlights a growing strain on the system’s financial stability.
According to figures cited from the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG), the SPV is already projected to face a €3.5 billion deficit in 2026. The audit court’s assessment underscores the increasingly challenging situation, attributing the widening gap to a faster-than-anticipated rise in the number of individuals requiring care and limitations placed on the contribution rates for in-home care services.
The report details that by the end of 2024, approximately 5.6 million individuals were receiving care through the SPV, representing a 7.7% increase – equivalent to 400,000 people – compared to the previous year.
The BRH has voiced concerns about the current pace of policy changes in the care sector and emphasizes the need for accelerated reform. A joint federal-state working group, initiated by Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU), is scheduled to begin sessions on Monday to develop the groundwork for a comprehensive care reform. The audit court’s statement indicates that while the underlying issues have been identified and numerous reform proposals are available, there is a lack of political will to implement them.
Furthermore, the BRH has questioned the effectiveness of a recently proposed loan of €2 billion, earmarked for the SPV in 2025 and 2026 by Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD). The audit court maintains that this measure fails to address the fundamental financial issues and that a more substantial reform of the SPV system remains essential.