Debt advice in Neumünster: waiting list is growing, help is missing!

Debt advice in Neumünster: waiting list is growing, help is missing!

In Neumünster the situation in the area of ​​debt advice is getting worse. In 2024, 877 people contacted the local Diakonie Altholstein advice center, which corresponds to an increase of 18% compared to the previous year. This development shows that the demand for support in financial matters is unexpectedly high. What is particularly worrying is the fact that 16% of Neumünster residents are considered over-indebted, almost twice as many as the national average. The situation makes it clear that many people have difficulty keeping their monthly expenses under control and often only come to advice in critical situations, as [kn-online.de](https://www.kn-online.de/lokales/neumuenster/ Schuldnerberatung-neumuenster-jeder-dritte-klient-erscheint-nicht-K6J2VJC4JJHARGGHDGFIFNUYPY.html) reports.

The main causes of over-indebtedness are diverse: unemployment, divorce, illness, addiction and an increase in mental illnesses contribute significantly to this dramatic development. It is often installment loans and payment services that place additional strain on the financial situation of those affected. Almost half of the clients in Neumünster are long-term unemployed people who rely on citizens' benefit, which further complicates their situation.

Waiting times and support offers

The demand leads to long waiting times for consultation appointments, which have now increased from three to five to six months. These delays can further exacerbate clients' problems. The consultation attempts to develop possible solutions. Diakonie offers support in comparing income and expenses, creating a debt overview and negotiating with creditors. It should be particularly emphasized that the advice is free and is aimed at people who are in financial or social problems, as [diakonie-altholstein.de](https://www.diakonie-altholstein.de/den-alltag-meistern/ Schuldner-insolvenzberatung) explains.

A notable innovation is the end of the postal check process by Postbank at the end of the year, which will affect many people without a bank account. Although banks are obliged to offer every citizen a checking account, in practice they face many rejections. The job center offers support when visiting banks to make it easier for those affected to access basic financial services.

Social dimension

The problem of over-indebtedness is closely related to the general social challenges that exist in Germany. The Joint Poverty Report 2022 indicates that the poverty rate is 16.9%, affecting around 14.1 million people. These figures illustrate the need for increased political action to combat poverty and to support people in difficult life situations, as is also emphasized on [ Schuldnerberatung-sh.de](https://www. Schuldnerberatung-sh.de/infoservice/studien/ueberschulung-in-deutschland.html).

In summary, it can be said that debt counseling in Neumünster faces major challenges. The increasing number of inquiries, the long waiting lists and the increasingly complex problems faced by clients make it clear that society needs to take urgent action here. A well-established advisory service can be the key to helping those affected escape the debt trap and lead a stable everyday life again.