The Court of Auditors blames the Social Security for 6.3 billion euros of errors in benefits

The Court of Auditors again recalculated the accounts of the family branch of Social Security on Friday, May 16, estimating at more than 6 billion euros "the amount of errors not corrected by internal control actions" : "6.3 billion euros in undue payments but also in unpaid benefits were noted at the end of 2024, which will never be regularized," the Court emphasized in a press release, deeming this amount "particularly high."

She points out "errors related to the data taken into account to pay benefits" and not corrected after twenty-four months. "These errors represent 8 % of the amount of benefits, and particularly concern the RSA, the activity bonus and housing assistance, the institution emphasizes. In particular, more than a quarter of the amounts paid under the activity bonus are tainted by errors." The Court of Auditors therefore declares itself "unable to certify" the accounts of the National Family Allowance Fund (CNAF) for 2024, as it had already done in 2022 and 2023.

These discrepancies are mainly due to "errors made by beneficiaries when completing their income declarations," Nicolas Grivel, director general of the CNAF, explained to AFP. He points to a greater risk of errors for the RSA and the activity bonus, which are calculated based on declarations completed by beneficiaries regarding their recent income. With the new solidarity at source system, rolled out in France since March, beneficiaries' declarations are "pre-filled based on information provided by the employer, France Travail, or health insurance, which should reduce the risk of error," he added.

In 2023, the Family Allowance Funds (CAF) paid €104.5 billion in benefits to 13.5 million households. These include the active solidarity income (RSA), the activity bonus, family allowances, the family support allowance, housing benefits, and the disabled adult allowance (AAH).

For the other four branches of Social Security (health, pensions, autonomy, work accidents and occupational illnesses), the Court of Auditors certifies "with reservation", as in previous years.

For the health insurance branch and the National Health Insurance Fund, the court notes that "the estimated amount of errors affecting health care cost payments has deteriorated compared to 2023 and reached €3.3 billion, compared to €3.1 billion in 2023." It also notes that the Cnam's assessment of fraud "is old" and relates "to a scope that is still incomplete." The Cnam's current estimate is between €1.4 and €1.9 billion. "One in fifteen newly awarded daily allowances is incorrect," the court notes.

Regarding the pension branch and the National Old Age Insurance Fund, the Court of Auditors maintains its reservations but notes progress. Thus, "one in ten retirement benefits awarded to former employees contains a financial error," compared to one in eight in 2023.