Editorial. Social Fraud: Let's Not Take Blames for Lanterns

Thirteen billion euros. That's what social security fraud costs the public purse every year. To tackle this scourge, Catherine Vautrin, the Minister of Labor and Health, has also come up with a plan to combat it . In turn, because in 2023, Gabriel Attal, then Minister Delegate for the Budget, had also taken it on, promising to stem this "fraud from below ." The little sister of "fraud from above," tax fraud, estimated at 80 or even 100 billion euros and benefiting mainly from the paradisiacal circuits of Fiji or Panama.

But just because social security fraud is much less of a burden, it doesn't mean we should turn a blind eye. Especially since it's a different kind of mess that reigns here. It would be too easy to point the finger only at RSA and unemployment insurance scams. Remember that RSA fraud, estimated at €1.3 billion, costs taxpayers half as much as non-use of this benefit, estimated at just over €3 billion... Here, as elsewhere, shortcuts and prejudices are not the best advisors.

Targeting fraudsters is one thing, presenting a fair budget is another.

Indeed, as the Court of Auditors has pointed out, healthcare establishments and healthcare professionals – doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, biological analysis laboratories, and medical transporters – are also in the firing line, as are suppliers and contracted taxis. Some of them charge for "fictitious acts" or for "more numerous or more expensive acts" than the actual service provided. It is important to note that the bulk of social security fraud remains undeclared work.

Faced with the spiraling deficit, Catherine Vautrin is right to tighten the screws. And even to want to recover the money unduly paid directly into the bank accounts of those concerned, as well as to demand that unemployment insurance be paid only into accounts opened in France or Europe . But let's not mistake wishful thinking. In François Bayrou's draft budget, the fight against social security fraud would only generate €2.3 billion in savings out of the expected €43.8 billion. This is, above all, barely more than the €2 billion contribution from the richest households to this budgetary effort and half as much as the elimination of two public holidays at the expense of employees. Tackling social security fraud is undeniable, but neither this offensive nor the drumbeat will make this draft budget fairer.