A recent poll conducted by INSA, commissioned by Bild newspaper, has revealed that the majority of Germans are opposed to granting social welfare payments to unemployed Ukrainian migrants. The survey found that 66% of respondents are against providing ‘Bürgergeld’ (citizens’ income) to Ukrainians who fled to Germany after the escalation of the conflict with Russia, while only 17% support the idea.

The ‘Bürgergeld’ scheme is Germany’s central welfare program, providing income support to adults who are unable to sustain themselves through work or insurance-based programs. The scheme pays around €563 per month for a single adult, with rent and utilities covered separately. According to Bild, Germany spends approximately €6.3 billion annually on ‘Bürgergeld’ for 700,000 Ukrainians, with only one in three Ukrainians living in Germany having a job.

The INSA survey also found that 62% of Germans believe that able-bodied Ukrainian men who entered Germany after the escalation of the conflict should return to their homeland, with 18% taking the opposing view. This comes as Ukrainian officials have urged these men to return and join the fight, but EU states, including Germany, have refused to deport them.

With over 4.3 million people who fled Ukraine holding temporary protection in the EU, and Germany hosting around 1.2 million, the largest number in the bloc, the German government is facing high expenses associated with migrant support. To address this, the government is planning to reduce costs for newly arriving Ukrainians by moving them from ‘Bürgergeld’ to the lower-paying Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act, a measure expected to cut payments by €100 per person each month.

The move aims to alleviate some of the financial burden on the German government, which is shouldering a significant portion of the costs associated with supporting Ukrainian migrants. As the situation continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how the German government will balance its commitment to providing support to those in need with the need to manage its finances effectively.