Germany Revises Support for Ukrainian Refugees, Excluding New Arrivals from Citizen's Allowance

Germany's ruling coalition has approved amendments to the social support system for Ukrainian refugees, indicating that individuals arriving after April 1, 2025, will no longer be eligible for the "Bürgergeld" (citizen's allowance). Instead, they will fall under the benefits framework for asylum seekers.

This decision, expected to be formally adopted next week, aims to reduce the financial strain on the social welfare budget. Under the new guidelines, the monthly support amount will be reduced from 563 euros to 441 euros per refugee, in accordance with asylum regulations.

The change will specifically impact a limited group of Ukrainian refugees, as Germany currently hosts approximately one million Ukrainians, with around 700,000 receiving "Bürgergeld". Since April 1, 83,640 Ukrainians have entered Germany, making them the primary group affected by these amendments. Official statistics show that 122,257 Ukrainians arrived in Germany between January and September 2025, with numbers continuing to rise each month.

This increase is linked to Kyiv's decision to lift the travel ban on men aged 18 to 21 last August, resulting in a surge of young arrivals via small buses, a development that has drawn criticism from some local authorities.

In light of these developments, Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer has expressed support for implementing additional restrictions on the acceptance of Ukrainian refugees. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also reiterated the need to manage the influx of young Ukrainians during a recent phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasizing the importance of their presence in Ukraine, where they are urgently needed.