German welfare payments rose by €4 billion in 2024, figures show

Germany paid out around €4 billion ($4.64 billion) more in basic state welfare benefits last year compared to 2023, bringing the total payments to about €46.9 billion.

The information came from the Social Affairs Ministry in response to a parliamentary question from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament.

The data showed that about €24.7 billion, or 52.6% of the total amount went to German citizens, while €22.2 billion or 47.4% was paid to people without German citizenship. This 2024 distribution is similar to the previous year.

Among the group of foreign recipients are several hundred thousand Ukrainians and their children who have fled Russia's war against their country, now more than three years old. They received a total of approximately €6.3 billion.

Meanwhile, €7.4 billion was paid to people from the eight main asylum-seeking countries, according to the ministry's figures.

Inflation adjustment explains the increase

Experts attribute the rise partly to a significant increase in standard rates in 2023 and 2024 due to inflation adjustments.

This year, there was no such increase, and none is expected for 2026.

Additionally, costs for accommodation and heating, which are 75% funded by the federal government, have risen sharply in many areas due to higher rents.

Savings could be achieved if more recipients were to work. According to findings from the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) in Nuremberg, 100,000 fewer welfare recipients would result in approximately €3 billion more in public funds.

Among Ukrainian refugees, the employment rate has been increasing, rising from 24.8% in October 2023 to 33.2% recently.

AfD Bundestag member René Springer criticized the payments to non-German citizens, arguing they are "spiralling out of control."

For the anti-immigrant AfD, the basic income should be primarily a benefit for German citizens.

"Foreigners should generally be denied access to citizen's income," Springer demanded, adding that the AfD would only allow exceptions.

He did not address the fact that people who are not German citizens but work in Germany pay into the system, including via taxes and required social programme payments.