Bremen and Bremerhaven Frequently Struggle with Paying Maintenance Costs
In Bremen and Bremerhaven, the issue of unpaid child maintenance has come to the forefront, with the state providing maintenance advances for over 13,000 children when one parent fails to meet their obligations. The state spends a substantial amount on child maintenance, but the non-payment is leaving a significant debt of nearly 69 million euros owed to the state.
The Senate has disclosed this debt, which has been a topic of concern, as evidenced by the request made by the Left Party. However, the Senate could not provide an explanation for the non-payment by maintenance obligors in Bremen and Bremerhaven.
The cities often step in when separated parents fail to pay child maintenance, but the number of cases where the authorities go to court is relatively low. The cities rarely succeed in recovering money from non-paying fathers or mothers, with repayment occurring in about ten percent of cases.
Several common explanations for such trends have emerged from broader research and policy discussions in Germany. Financial hardship and poverty, lack of effective enforcement mechanisms, and administrative and legal challenges are often cited as reasons for non-repayment.
On the other hand, the low rate of court cases may be due to alternative dispute resolution, underreporting, and prioritizing support over prosecution. The city of Bremen, for example, has a trend toward prevention and support rather than prosecution for certain non-violent offenses related to poverty.
While specific data for Bremen and Bremerhaven are missing, these common reasons provide insight into the challenges faced in ensuring child maintenance is paid consistently. The issue continues to be a significant concern for the cities, leaving many children waiting for their due maintenance payments.
| Issue | Common Explanations | |-----------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | Non-repayment of maintenance | Financial hardship, lack of enforcement, administrative barriers | | Low rate of court cases | Alternative dispute resolution, underreporting, prioritizing support over prosecution |
Radio Bremen discusses the continued issue of unpaid child maintenance in the cities, highlighting the debt of nearly 69 million euros owed to the state. The irregular payments have been linked to financial hardship, ineffective enforcement mechanisms, and administrative challenges, as revealed in broader German research and policy discussions. In the current situation, the city of Bremen prioritizes prevention and support over prosecution for certain non-violent offenses related to poverty, which may contribute to the low rate of court cases.
