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Germany to Reduce Social Support for Ukrainian Refugees
Starting April 1, 2025, the German government plans to reduce benefits for newly arrived Ukrainian refugees. The changes aim to ensure fair distribution of benefits and bring the social support for Ukrainian refugees closer to the levels in other European nations.
Currently, Ukrainian refugees in Germany receive the citizen's allowance (Bürgergeld), a welfare payment ensuring a minimum standard of living. However, from next year, new arrivals will receive lower payments under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, cutting support by about €100 per month per person.
The proposed change must be approved by the Federal Government and the Bundesrat to come into force by the end of 2025. Politicians such as Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder argue for excluding all Ukrainian refugees (not just new arrivals) from the higher citizen's allowance, to align their benefits with other asylum seekers and encourage labor market integration. Similar calls have been made by Saxony's Minister-President Michael Kretschmer.
Kretschmer has compared the employment rate of Ukrainian refugees in Germany to that in France, the Netherlands, Poland, and the Czech Republic, noting a higher proportion of workers in those countries. He has also pointed out instances of people receiving benefits who may not truly need them, particularly among those seeking protection.
The debate about the citizens' allowance and its distribution continues among German politicians. The citizens' allowance is one of the government's expenses totaling 47 billion euros, according to Michael Kretschmer. He has emphasized the need to scrutinize state spending on the citizens' allowance.
| Aspect | Germany Before April 1, 2025 | Germany After April 1, 2025 | Other European Countries | |-------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------------| | Type of benefit | Citizen's allowance (Bürgergeld) | Asylum Seekers Benefits Act payments | Generally asylum-level benefits | | Monthly amount for new arrivals | ~€563 | ~€441 | Usually similar or lower than €441 | | Benefit eligibility for Ukrainians | All Ukrainian refugees receive Bürgergeld | New arrivals receive reduced benefits; political debate about excluding existing recipients | Benefits generally lower, tied to asylum seeker rules | | Employment rate of Ukrainians | Relatively low compared to other EU countries | Policy aims to encourage higher employment | Higher employment rates in countries like France, Poland, Netherlands, Czech Republic |
Thus, Germany is moving to reduce the social support for Ukrainian refugees to bring it closer to the levels in other European nations, with a focus on fiscal sustainability and incentivizing employment. The debate about whether restrictions should also apply retroactively continues among German politicians.
A reduction in social support for Ukrainian refugees, as proposed by the German government, aims to align benefits with other European countries and incentivize employment. This change follows the ongoing discussion among German politicians about fiscal sustainability, as well as the scrutiny of state spending on the citizens' allowance.
The political landscape revolves around the potential for restrictions on benefits not just for new arrivals but also for existing recipients, evidenced by calls from figures like Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder and Saxony's Minister-President Michael Kretschmer. These proposals come in light of comparisons between the employment rates of Ukrainian refugees in Germany and those in other European countries, such as France, the Netherlands, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
