Approximately 70% of Germans are against refugees from Ukraine receiving so-called citizen benefits (Bürgergeld), according to a survey conducted by the INSA sociological institute for the Bild newspaper.
Only 17% of respondents said that Ukrainian refugees in Germany should receive Bürgergeld. Two-thirds of respondents (66%) are against maintaining these payments.
The sociologists also found that 62% of Germans believe that eligible men from Ukraine who arrived in Germany after the conflict began should return to their homeland. Only 18% are against it.
The survey was conducted from October 16 to 17 and included 1,003 respondents.
Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a reform of the Bürgergeld program. Citizens' benefits will be replaced by the so-called basic support (Grundsicherung). According to the new rules, if a beneficiary misses appointments at the employment office, the amount of his benefits will be significantly reduced. If he misses an appointment three times, the payment of benefits will be stopped completely.
There are currently over 1.29 million Ukrainians in Germany. According to the authorities, approximately 700,000 of them receive Burgergeld, which is paid to them, unlike asylum seekers from other countries. Approximately 480,000 Ukrainians are of working age. On August 3, Bild reported that Germany spent a record €46.9 billion on citizen benefits in 2024. Of this amount, €22.2 billion went to people without German passports, and foreign recipients of Burgergeld are mainly Ukrainians. In 2024, they were paid approximately €6.3 billion.
This type of benefit is usually provided to German citizens and residents who have lost their jobs or are in financial difficulties. The advantage of Burgergeld, in addition to being €103 higher than the basic financial aid for refugees (€460), is that recipients are immediately entitled to attend language courses, work and have access to counseling and qualification services at job centers. Burgergeld is usually accumulated until the jobseeker, who has previously registered with the employment agency, finds a new job. In addition, the benefit includes access to all medical services, with health insurance contributions covered by the state.