Asylum Seeker Benefit Recipients on the Rise in 2022
Good news for asylum seekers in Germany, as the number of individuals receiving benefits has surged by an impressive 21% year-over-year. That equates to approximately 84,000 new beneficiaries, putting the total count at a staggering 482,300 people by the end of 2022. This information comes straight from Germany's Federal Statistical Office.
A significant contributing factor to this increase is the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In fact, around 40,000 of the new beneficiaries were Ukrainian war refugees, accounting for an eight percent slice of the overall pie. However, these figures don't make Ukraine the biggest asylum seeker group.
Why So Many Asylum Seekers in Germany?
Let's delve a bit deeper to get a better understanding of where these asylum seekers are hailing from. As of 2022, respective shares of beneficiaries came from three primary regions:
- Asia (52%)
- Europe (29%)
- Africa (16%)
More specifically, the three most common countries of origin were Syria (13%), Afghanistan (12%), and Iraq (11%). Interestingly, the majority of asylum seekers were male (63%), with women accounting for 37% of the total. A sizable portion (approximately 30%) comprised minors, while 67% fell between the ages of 18 and 64. The remaining percent was for individuals aged over 64.
Standard and Special Asylum Seeker Benefits
Asylum seekers in Germany can expect to receive one of two types of benefits: standard or special. The former is the basic living allowance to cover necessities such as food and clothing, while the latter is given for situations such as illness or pregnancy.
To qualify for special benefits, individuals must meet specific requirements, including having been in Germany for at least 18 months with minimal disruptions, and not intentionally misusing the system by destroying identity documents or providing false information. According to Federal Office data, around 289,900 people were entitled to special benefits in 2022, with 57,600 of them only receiving this additional support.
Ukrainians and Benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Act
War refugees from Ukraine initially received support under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, following the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022. However, Ukraine's valid residence permit or temporary stay permit holders transitioned to the basic income support scheme under Social Code II (previously known as Hartz IV, now Bürgergeld) in June 2022. As of the end of 2022, 40,000 people from Ukraine continued to receive standard benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act, as they awaited their residence permit approvals.
In conclusion, the asylum seeker benefit roll call has grown exponentially in 2022, primarily due to the conflict in Ukraine. While Ukrainians didn't claim the top spot as the largest group of asylum seekers, other countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq come bearing substantial numbers. These factors contribute to the widely observed increase in asylum seekers seeking refuge in Germany.
