Both refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection are entitled to social benefits, in particular unemployment benefits, on the same level as German nationals. There have been substantial reforms of the legal framework governing social benefits in Germany through the so-called ‘citizens benefits law’ (Bürgergeld Gesetz) which entered into force on 1 January 2023. They entail changes to social benefits which respectively apply for German nationals as well as for beneficiaries of international protection. Since January 2024, the amount of financial benefits has been lifted from EUR 502 to EUR 563 for single adults, EUR 506 for spouses, children between 14 and 17 years EUR 471 and children between six and thirteen EUR 390 and children under six years EUR 357; these standard rates remained unchanged for 2025 and 2026. Additionally, the reform reduced grounds for penalties upon non-compliance with obligations to cooperate and raised the amount of financial reserves and extra income next to the unemployment benefits.[1]
Beneficiaries of international protection are entitled to benefits, starting from the first day of the month after the recognition of their status has become legally valid i.e. usually with the arrival of the decision by the BAMF. Problems with access to social benefits may occur during the period when persons have already been granted protection status but still only have the asylum applicant’s permission to stay (Aufenthaltsgestattung) because they have not yet received the residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) which officially confirms that they have protection status. This may lead responsible authorities to deny social services for the first couple of weeks following the recognition of the status. However, persons concerned would in any case be entitled to the (lower) asylum applicants’ benefits during this period and they can claim payments to which they would have been entitled at a later date.[2]
For persons who are registered as unemployed, the responsible authority is the job centre or Employment Agency. This institution is responsible for the disbursement of unemployment benefits as well as for the provision of other benefits and measures for integration into the labour market; job training measures, support with job applications, specific language courses etc. For persons who are not registered as unemployed (e.g., because they have reached the age of retirement or are unable to work on health grounds), the responsible authority is the Social Welfare Office.
Policy changes in 2025 affected newly arriving displaced persons from Ukraine (for more information, see TP Annex): while many Ukrainian beneficiaries had previously accessed benefits under the general social security systems (in particular Bürgergeld) upon registration, the Federal Government is discussing that people under the TP should in principle fall under the AsylbLG system rather than receiving Bürgergeld from the outset.[3]
Since August 2016, beneficiaries of protection are generally obliged to take up their place of residence within the Federal State in which their asylum procedures have been conducted for a maximum period of three years (see Freedom of movement). In these cases, social benefits are only provided in the respective municipality.
[1] NDR, Bürgergeld statt Hartz IV: Was ändert sich und was bleibt?, last amended 2 January 2023, available in German at: http://bit.ly/3WU8s4u.
[2] Georg Classen, Ratgeber für Geflüchtete in Berlin, 2nd ed., November 2017, available in German at: https://bit.ly/2DOV0X5, 156-157.
[3] Federal Government, Rechtskreiswechsel für ukrainische Geflüchtete, 19 November 2025, available in German here.