Around 461,000 people in Germany were receiving standard benefits under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act (AsylbLG) at the end of 2024. Among them were approximately 25,200 people from Ukraine. As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the number of recipients decreased by about 10%, or 52,700 people, compared with 2023.
Those entitled to benefits are foreign nationals residing in Germany who meet one of the conditions outlined in § 1 AsylbLG. A distinction is made between standard benefits and special benefits. Standard benefits include basic provisions to cover essential personal needs under § 3 AsylbLG, as well as benefits in special cases under § 2 AsylbLG.
Benefits in special cases under the Twelfth Book of the Social Code (SGB XII) and Part II of the Ninth Book of the Social Code (SGB IX) are provided to individuals who have been residing in Germany for 18 months without significant interruption and who have not influenced the duration of their stay through misuse, such as destroying their passport or giving false identity information.
At the end of 2024, 64% of those receiving standard benefits were male and 36% were female. Twenty-nine percent were minors, 69% were between 18 and 64 years old, and about 1% were 65 or older. Most recipients came from Asia (47%), followed by Europe (31%) and Africa (17%). The most common countries of origin were Turkey (16%), Syria (14%), Afghanistan (11%), and Iraq (7%). People from Ukraine accounted for 5% of all beneficiaries at the end of 2024.
Refugees from Ukraine in need of assistance who hold a residence permit under § 24 of the Residence Act, or a corresponding temporary certificate, transitioned no later than August 31, 2022, from AsylbLG to the Social Code (SGB II or SGB XII) and have since received citizens’ benefit or social assistance. However, newly arriving persons from Ukraine continue to receive AsylbLG benefits until the required residence permit is issued and their classification under SGB II or SGB XII is clarified.
In addition to standard benefits, special benefits may also be granted under AsylbLG for specific needs. These include healthcare, pregnancy and childbirth-related support under § 4 AsylbLG, the provision of work opportunities under § 5 AsylbLG, other benefits under § 6 AsylbLG, and, under § 2 AsylbLG, benefits from Chapters 5 to 9 of SGB XII and Part II of SGB IX. At the end of 2024, around 252,300 people were receiving special benefits. This included approximately 13,000 individuals who were entitled solely to special benefits.
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