No more Bürgergeld : What Ukrainians expect to receive in the future
Migration was a difficult topic for the Christian Democratic/Social Union (CDU/CSU) and Social Democrats (SPD), which nearly threatened to capsize the coalition negotiations.
However, the three parties compromised on several aspects, including the controversial policy of how to support Ukrainian refugees.
Under the previous Ampel coalition, the German government allowed refugees fleeing from Ukraine to receive Bürgergeld, which is normally reserved for permanent German residents.
From April 1st 2025, Ukrainian refugees will no longer receive Bürgergeld, but asylum benefit (Asylleistungen. This article may might your life slightly easier in terms of German legal terms for these things: https://www.rnd.de/politik/kein-buergergeld-mehr-fuer-ukraine-fluechtlinge-was-kuenftig-gelten-soll-4S2IEE57WRHQPGP4XZJPJSHH6U.html)
Less money for Ukrainian refugees
Refugees from Ukraine were the first to be eligible for Bürgergeld, and were granted residency status within the EU without needing to apply for asylum first, as was formerly the case with refugees arriving from places such as Syria and Afghanistan.
Under the Bürgergeld allowance, single people receive €563 per month but asylum seekers are entitled to €122 less and receive €441, via a payment card.
Refugees also receive less money if sharing accommodation, although housing costs are still covered.
Bürgergeld is financed by taxes from the federal government, whilst asylum support comes from states and municipalities.
Work permit questions
One of the main reasons behind the Ampel coalition’s decision to grant refugees from Ukraine residency status, was that it allowed refugees to receive work permits faster.
However, it currently unclear whether classifying Ukrainians as asylum seekers will go beyond benefits and impact their right to work in Germany. Under the asylum seekers framework, refugees are not permitted to work for the first three months and face additional restrictions after that.
According to the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, almost 300,000 people from Ukraine work in Germany. Around 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees live in Germany, of which 63% are women. Around 360,000 are children, who are not eligible to work.
According to the agency, 32% of Ukrainians are currently in regular or marginal employment. Many are juggling integration and language courses, with employment particularly difficult to achieve for women with young children.
The number of refugees fleeing to Germany has dramatically declined over the years, with the majority arriving in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion.
ADVERTISEMENTUkrainians and their families are still generally granted protection in Germany, as in other EU states, until 4 March 2026. Under these protections, they are automatically granted residency status alongside associated rights.
It is unclear whether the coalitions decisions will impact these measures.
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