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Cabinet Backs Draft to End Bürgergeld for Ukrainians Arriving Since April

The draft now heads to the Bundesrat, with compensation to states still unresolved.

Overview

  • Affected Ukrainians would move into the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz administered by municipal social offices, with the standard single adult rate falling from €563 to €441.
  • The change is set to apply retroactively from April 1, 2025, while already approved Bürgergeld notices are initially exempt.
  • The Labour Ministry says work‑able refugees must promptly seek employment, with possible job assignments or mandatory integration courses.
  • More than 83,000 people are reported to lose statutory health insurance and instead receive the narrower health coverage available under the asylum benefits law.
  • Costs shift from the federal level to Länder and municipalities, with 2026 estimates showing €831 million lower Bürgergeld outlays but €862 million higher asylum‑benefit spending as details of federal lump‑sum compensation remain open.