Debate in Germany: Does the generosity of benefits prevent Ukrainians from working?
The intensity of the political debate in Germany is escalating regarding the citizen's allowance (Bürgergeld) provided to Ukrainian refugees, as leaders from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) believe that the aid is too generous and discourages beneficiaries from working. The Prime Minister of Bavaria, Markus Söder, wants to limit the assistance received by Ukrainian refugees to the minimum level designated for asylum seekers, while the Minister of the Chancellery, Thorsten Frei, asserts that "Germany offers unparalleled benefits in the world." The Prime Minister of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, points to countries like France, the Netherlands, Poland, and the Czech Republic, where the employment rates of Ukrainians are much higher.
Since the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Germany has welcomed around 1.23 million Ukrainian refugees. By April 2025, more than 693,000 of them were receiving citizen benefits, including 497,000 considered able to work. Unmarried adults receive 563 euros per month, in addition to housing and heating costs. Despite efforts like the "Job Boost" program that started in October 2023, only about a third of the eligible refugees are employed. Experts say that the slow recognition of Ukrainian qualifications, language barriers, and a lack of childcare services—especially for mothers—are the main obstacles.
In Poland, the employment rate of Ukrainian refugees is nearly double that in Germany, at around 65 percent. Refugees there receive child benefits, but there is no similar benefit for working-age adults. Additionally, the similarity of the language and the presence of strong Ukrainian work networks before the war help newcomers find jobs quickly. In the Czech Republic, which hosts over 581,000 Ukrainian refugees, holders of temporary protection receive more support than asylum seekers, but benefits are calculated based on income and assets, encouraging work. About 60 percent of working-age Ukrainians there have jobs.
France has received a much smaller number of Ukrainian refugees—about 74,100—and provides limited financial support of around 426 euros per month under the ADA program. Housing is provided for at least three months, after which applications for housing assistance can be made. In Italy, where more than 168,000 Ukrainians live under temporary protection, refugees have access to healthcare, education, and the labor market like citizens. Financial support ended in April 2025, and assistance remained limited to housing provision. In the Netherlands, refugees receive a living allowance (“leefgeld”) averaging 315 euros per month, but the family loses it entirely if any member starts working, contributing to an employment rate of 60 percent.
In the poorer EU countries like Bulgaria and Romania, benefits are much lower and often conditional on work. Bulgaria offers one-time grants and limited social assistance, along with state-funded housing and food for those without shelter. Romania provides about 100 euros per month per person, with continued support contingent on proving employment or job searching, and requires families to register their children in schools. These stricter conditions seem to push refugees to engage in the labor market faster than in Germany.