Ukrainians arriving in Germany after 1 April 2025 will receive social benefits at the level of the minimum subsistence level for asylum seekers — €441 per month instead of the current €563. This was reported by Deutsche Welle, citing government sources.
The changes will not affect Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Germany before 1 April — they will continue to receive assistance in accordance with the standards of the basic social security system (Bürgergeld), which is provided to unemployed German citizens.
The planned innovation requires legislative changes. As explained by the Federal Ministry of Labour, the specific timing of implementation is not yet known. The relevant bills have not yet been submitted to the Bundestag, so the procedure is expected to take several months.
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In addition to reduced cash payments, other changes await newly arrived Ukrainians: they will have to live in shelters organised by local communities instead of renting their own accommodation. New refugees will also face restrictions on access to the health insurance system.
The German Association of Towns and Municipalities warns that such changes could create ‘bureaucratic chaos’ and an additional burden on municipalities. In particular, this concerns administrative responsibility for organising housing and possible conflicts related to the eviction of families with children.
At the same time, social policy expert Thomas Franz stressed that refugees will not have to return the funds they have already received. According to him, the most pressing concerns are housing and access to social services.
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