Germany introduces strict rules: Ukrainian refugees may lose social assistance

Germany is introducing new rules for people receiving state benefits, including Ukrainians who are in the country under the temporary protection program.

Now, for refusing job offers or missing essential appointments at employment services, benefits may be revoked. According to Tagesschau, these innovations aim to increase the responsibility of social assistance recipients.

In particular, the updated rules concern the basic Bürgergeld benefit. Previously, for violations, for example, missing an interview, the amount of benefit was reduced by 10%, while now the financial sanction will be 30%. This significantly increases the responsibility for those receiving social assistance.

Particularly severe penalties await those who repeatedly refuse the offered job or participate in employment programs. In such cases, the state has the right to stop payments completely.

The German government explains these measures by the need to prevent the abuse of social assistance and to encourage the unemployed to search for work more actively. The new rules apply to all Bürgergeld recipients, including Ukrainian refugees, who are now subject to the same conditions as German citizens.

Thus, Ukrainians living in Germany without formal employment must carefully comply with their obligations to employment centers to avoid losing state support.

It was previously reported that Ukrainian refugees may be paid money to return to their homeland, and new strict restrictions for Ukrainian migrants in Portugal were also noted. In addition, the European Union is discussing changes to the legal status of refugees to accommodate Ukrainians in the new conditions.