In Germany, the possibility of reducing the volume of social assistance provided by Ukrainian refugees who arrived in the country in connection with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Prime Minister of the Federal Land Bavaria and the leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU) Marcus Zeder is discussing in the country. Ukrainians are not “civic payment” (Bürgergeld), but less generous assistance under the law on the provision of asylum.
Zeder announced the need to reform the payments system Bürgergeld.
“For example, it should be ensured that the Ukrainians no longer receive a civic payment. This should relate not only newly arrivals, but all,” the same He.
According to Zeder, despite the high level of education, only a few Ukrainians work in Germany.
The proposal of the head of Bavaria supported the state secretary of the Federal Chancellery Torsten Fry, noting that, according to statistics, only a third of the Ukrainians in Germany are employed. (CDU) Dennis Ratka criticized a proposal to deprive all Ukrainians of civil payment. He agreed that the newly arrived could receive help from the legislation on the shelter, but warned that the retrospective use of this measure would cause administrative difficulties.
Ratka also emphasized that it was necessary to evaluate whether such an initiative will contribute to the integration of Ukrainians into the labor market. He expressed bewilderment about such proposals and called not to make “scapegoats” from Ukrainians. He also expressed gratitude to the German government and taxpayers for all the support provided.
according to the coalition agreement signed on May 6, 2025 between the Christian Union (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the new arrivative Ukrainians should not receive benefits under the Bürgergeld system, but in the line of assault. However, in practice, this provision has not yet been implemented.
according to the ARD public broadcaster, the volume of payments within the framework of Bürgergeld in 2024 increased by more than 9% compared to 2023, reaching 46.9 billion euros. Of this amount, 6.3 billion euros were paid to Ukrainian refugees.
since the beginning of the war in 2022, more than 1 million citizens of Ukraine arrived in Germany.