Citizens' money: upswing among foreigners - who are the most recipients?

Citizens' money: upswing among foreigners - who are the most recipients?

There are around 5.5 million recipients of citizen's benefit living in Germany, which corresponds to around 6.5 to 8 percent of the total population. Of these recipients, more than half, a solid 52 percent, have their origins in their own country, while 48 percent come from abroad. This number has steadily increased in recent years. From an analysis by Mercury shows that particularly deep immigration, especially as a result of the Russian attack on Ukraine, is having an impact on the increasing number of foreign recipients.

Ukrainians are the largest group of foreign recipients of citizen's benefit, with around 705,000 people dependent on it. Syria ranks second with around 512,000 recipients, followed by Afghanistan with around 201,000 and other nations such as Turkey, the Western Balkans and Iraq. It is important to emphasize that foreign nationals legally residing in Germany are entitled to this state support, reports Citizen money.

Political debates and reforms

The political landscape is characterized by intense discussions. Critics see the large number of foreign recipients of citizen's benefit as a possible burden on the social system. Jens Spahn, the head of the Union parliamentary group, expressed concern about the increase and spoke of “social explosives”. However, according to experts from the Bundestag's Research Service, there is no reliable evidence that citizens' money acts as an incentive for migration.

The traffic light coalition is planning a reform of citizens' money, which has been supported by the federal government since its introduction as a reform of basic security at the beginning of 2023. The aim of the reform is a “new basic security” with stricter cooperation obligations and an end to the asset protection period. The reform is being discussed controversially, especially by the CDU/CSU, which is calling for more transparency and a return to mediation priority, which fundamentally calls the restructuring into question bpb.

The look into the future

In 2023, the cost of citizens' money amounted to 42.6 billion euros, which represents an increase of 16 percent compared to the previous year. These enormous financial demands raise questions about the sustainability and long-term management of the system. The standard requirement for a single person is currently 563 euros per month, which is actually essential to survival for many.

The reform of the citizen's benefit puts a clear focus on qualification and further training in order to open up long-term employment opportunities for the people affected. It remains to be seen whether these measures will have the desired effects. Expert reports on the balance sheet of the citizen's benefit reform are expected at the end of 2026. The development remains exciting and it remains to be seen in which direction the system and public opinion will continue to develop.