The League of Independent Social Welfare Organizations is calling for more funding for debt counseling in Saxony. The League stated that funding must be needs-based and sufficient to cover costs. “Investments in counseling not only protect individuals from social decline but also strengthen social harmony and economic stability in Saxony.” The draft of the new two-year budget does not account for the requested increase in funding.
Long wait times and long distances for debt counseling
The League pointed to the high demand and backed this up with figures from 2024. At that time, more than 22,800 people received support at 68 debt counseling centers run by independent welfare organizations. “At the same time, there is a significant unmet need: Over 8 percent of Saxon households were over-indebted in 2023, yet only about 7 percent of the affected households were actually able to take advantage of the counseling services. Long wait times, long distances, and a lack of capacity make access considerably more difficult.”