Two-thirds of Germans believe that Ukrainian refugees should not receive Bürgergeld benefits – survey

Most German citizens believe that Ukrainian refugees should no longer receive the Bürgergeld cash allowance.

This was shown by the results of a poll conducted by the INSA Institute on behalf of the German tabloid Bild.

According to the survey, two-thirds of respondents — 66% — opposed continuing payments to Ukrainians, while only 17% supported the benefits.

A nearly identical split in opinion was recorded on another question: 62% of Germans believe that Ukrainian men of conscription age should return to their homeland, while 18% disagreed.

Earlier, the German government announced a reform of the Bürgergeld program. It is to be renamed “Basic Support for Job Seekers” (Grundsicherung für Arbeitssuchende) and will include stricter eligibility criteria for benefits.

It has not yet been clarified whether the changes will affect Ukrainians, who since summer 2022 have been entitled to Bürgergeld on the same terms as other social welfare recipients.

Previously, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party had called for the cancellation of Bürgergeld payments to Ukrainian refugees in Germany.