France to launch crackdown plan for social security fraud
Billions are believed to be lost through non-payment of cotisations or fake benefit claims
Piggy bank and RSA form
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A social security fraud crackdown is planned to recover the billions believed to be lost through non-payment of cotisations or fake benefit claims.
One concern relates to the use of online buying and selling platforms, such as eBay or leboncoin, by micro-entrepreneurs.
Next year, a contact point will be set up for Urssaf and workers to resolve issues over unpaid contributions ‘amicably’ without penalties. It is also planned that from 2026 French sites will declare micro-entrepreneurs’ turnover to Urssaf and that from 2027 there will be at-source levies.
There will be increased checks into unusually high prescription costs and also more checks into claims for sick pay and scrutiny of potentially fake declarations of work accidents.
Social security bodies will liaise with prefectures to check benefits are not being paid to any foreign people whose residency cards have been cancelled. Next year family or housing benefits and income top-ups will also be limited to people resident at least nine months of the year.
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