Migration - Significantly more foreigners receive asylum seeker benefits
The number of foreigners receiving benefits as asylum seekers in Germany rose significantly last year. Around 482,300 people were receiving standard benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act at the end of 2022, which was 21% or around 84,000 people more than a year earlier, according to the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden. One reason for the increase is the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine: at the end of 2022, around 40,000 asylum seekers were Ukrainian, accounting for eight percent of the total.
According to the figures, the majority of those entitled to benefits came from Asia (52%), Europe (29%) and Africa (16%). The most common countries of origin were Syria (13%), Afghanistan (12%) and Iraq (11%). The majority of the people - 63 percent - were men, 37 percent were women. 31 percent were minors, 67 percent were between 18 and 64 years old and two percent were older.
In addition to standard benefits, asylum seekers can receive special benefits, for example in the event of illness or pregnancy. At the end of 2022, 289,900 people were entitled to this, according to the Federal Office. 57,600 of them only received special benefits.
War refugees from Ukraine were initially provided for under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act after the attack on their country on February 24, 2022. Since June 2022, they have been integrated into the basic income support scheme under Social Security Code II (formerly Hartz IV, now Citizens' Allowance). According to the information provided, newly arrived Ukrainians will continue to receive benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act until they are granted a residence permit.
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- The increase in asylum seeker benefits in Germany can be attributed in part to the Russian war against Ukraine, as indicated by Destatis' data, which showed approximately 40,000 Ukrainian asylum seekers at the end of 2022.
- The Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden, commonly known as Destatis, reported that Germany saw a significant rise in foreigners receiving asylum seeker benefits, with around 482,300 individuals receiving such benefits by the end of 2022.
- The Russian conflict in Ukraine has resulted in a substantial number of asylum seekers seeking refuge in Germany, with benefits for asylum seekers playing a crucial role in supporting these individuals, as evidenced by Destatis' statistics.
- Despite the integration of war refugees from Ukraine into the basic income support scheme under Social Security Code II, they will continue to receive benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act until they are granted a residence permit, according to the information provided by Destatis.
Source: www.stern.de
