Overview

• The CDU/CSU/SPD coalition agreement mandates that Ukrainian refugees arriving after April 1, 2025, will receive lower benefits under the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz instead of Bürgergeld.
• A YouGov survey found that 77% of Germans support the planned reduction in benefits for new Ukrainian refugees, reflecting strong public approval.
• The policy will not affect refugees already in Germany, who will continue to receive Bürgergeld if eligible.
• The EU mass-influx directive, extended through March 2026, allows Ukrainian refugees to reside in Germany without formal asylum applications and previously granted them access to Bürgergeld.
• Details of the eligibility criteria and implementation for the new benefit structure are still being finalized, with uniform wealth assessments expected to play a role.