Germany to change social benefits for the unemployed: how this will affect Ukrainians
6 March 12:25
Germany is changing its social assistance system for the unemployed. On March 5, the country’s parliament passed a law reforming Bürgergeld payments — state assistance for people who cannot afford a minimum standard of living. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to DW.
The decision was supported by the Bundestag.
The reform may directly affect hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who fled to Germany after the start of the full-scale war.
How many Ukrainians receive social benefits
According to official government data, there are about 1.26 million Ukrainian citizens living in Germany.
Of these, approximately 701,000 are eligible for Bürgergeld benefits.
Ukrainians make up about 13% of all recipients of this social benefit, making them the largest group among foreigners.
For comparison:
- Syrians — about 9%
- Afghans — approximately 3.5%
- Turkish citizens — about 3.5%.
What will change in the social benefits system
The reform envisages transforming Bürgergeld into a basic support system for people who are actively looking for work.
The German government plans to tighten the rules for receiving benefits.
The main changes are:
- tighter control over the unemployed
- stricter sanctions for refusing to cooperate with employment centers
- more thorough checks of recipients’ income and savings.
For example, if a person misses two appointments with an employment service advisor, their benefits may be reduced by 30%.
After the third missed appointment, benefits may be completely suspended, and compensation for rent and heating costs may also be discontinued.
What benefits do unemployed people receive in Germany?
As of now, the amount of assistance is:
- 563 euros per month for a single person
- €506 per person — for married couples.
Child benefits are also paid:
- from €357 to €471 depending on age.
In addition, the state compensates for the costs of:
- housing rent
- utility services
- heating.
For example, a family with two children can receive around €2,700 per month, including housing compensation.
What will change for Ukrainian refugees
The most important change concerns Ukrainians who arrived in Germany after April 1, 2025.
They will no longer receive Bürgergeld.
Instead, new arrivals will be covered by the law on assistance for asylum seekers, where the basic payment is around €410 per month.
For Ukrainians already living in Germany, the support system will remain largely unchanged. At the same time, employment and income requirements will become stricter.
Experts note that the new rules should encourage faster integration into the labor market.
