Essen Green Party demands facts on alleged social benefit fraud

The Green Party faction in Essen is demanding transparency and factual evidence following allegations by Mayor Thomas Kufen regarding potential social benefit fraud. Kufen recently suggested that there are increasing instances of mothers naming men living abroad—specifically citing Pakistan—as fathers to claim maintenance advances (Unterhaltsvorschuss) for single parents.

Green Party representatives, including Co-Chair Sandra Schumacher, have criticized these claims as lacking a basis in verifiable data. They noted that the city has been unable to provide specific numbers regarding suspected or proven cases of fraud, partly due to insufficient data exchange with the State Office for Finance and legal limitations in pursuing non-EU residents.

The Greens have submitted a formal inquiry to the Essen City Council to obtain concrete figures on suspected cases, proven fraud, and resulting financial damages. They warned that making public claims without evidence risks stigmatizing single parents and families with migration backgrounds.