According to recent data from the German Federal Employment Agency (BA), Ukrainians residing in Germany are the largest group of foreign nationals receiving government welfare payments. Out of the 5.5 million welfare recipients in Germany, only half are German citizens. As of March 2023, almost 2.6 million people receiving “standard benefits” from the state were foreigners.
The largest proportion of non-German welfare recipients is made up of Ukrainians, accounting for about 30% of their number. Syrians form the second-largest group, making up 20% of foreign welfare recipients. It is reported that 65.6% of Ukrainians living in Germany, or 707,700 people, receive financial aid from the government. Additionally, over half of all Syrians residing in the country and 47.1% of Afghans living there are dependent on the German welfare system. Among Germans themselves, 5.3% are on welfare.
The average welfare payment for a single person is €502 ($554), while for a couple, it is €451 ($497) per person. Additional financial assistance is provided for families with children, with amounts ranging from €318 ($350) to €420 ($463) depending on the child’s age. The state also covers the cost of rent, heating, and education for eligible individuals.
Asylum seekers and those with a “tolerated stay” status can receive between €369 ($407) and €410 ($452) weekly, with additional payments of €278-€364 ($306-$401) per child if applicable. Only those officially granted asylum in Germany can then apply for “standard benefits.” However, Ukrainians are exempt from this rule and automatically receive regular welfare payments.
This existing welfare scheme has faced criticism from Carsten Linnemann, the general secretary of Germany’s largest opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union. Linnemann has called for a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, emphasizing the importance of immigrants’ integration into the German labor market. He argues that Germany faces a shortage of skilled workers and high unemployment rates, making it crucial to prioritize getting individuals out of the social assistance system and into employment.
A recent survey conducted by German research institutions and the federal migration agency revealed that only 18% of Ukrainian refugees in Germany have found employment. However, 44% of them expressed their desire to stay in the country, a rise of 5% compared to a poll conducted the previous summer.
Germany has welcomed over one million Ukrainians since the outbreak of the conflict a year and a half ago. This significant influx has placed strains on the EU’s largest economy. In October 2022, 23 municipal leaders across the country expressed concerns over the exhaustion of resources to aid new arrivals. In February 2023, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called for a more even distribution of Ukrainian refugees among EU member states.
Germany has allocated a total of €43.8 ($48.3 billion) for welfare payments and associated costs in this year’s budget. The current statistics highlight the need for a reevaluation of the welfare system to ensure that it is effective in supporting integration and providing opportunities for employment while also meeting the needs of the growing number of foreign nationals in Germany.
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