Refugee Benefits in Germany: How Much Is Paid and What Support Is Available?

What Benefits Do Refugees Get in Germany?

In Germany, the type and amount of social support for refugees depends on their residence status. Different laws and support programmes apply at different stages of your stay in the country. The main types of support for refugees are shown in the table below.

The amount you receive and the conditions for getting help mainly depend on your residence status and the stage of your asylum application.

There are several types of protection status for refugees in Germany, defined by asylum and international protection laws. The most common statuses are ³:

• Asylsuchende — a person who has come to Germany to seek asylum.
• Asylbewerber — an asylum seeker whose application is still being processed.
• Asylberechtigte — people who have been granted asylum under the German Constitution (Article 16a Grundgesetz).
• Flüchtlingsstatus — refugee status under the Geneva Refugee Convention.
• Subsidiärer Schutz — extra protection for people who need asylum but do not qualify as refugees.
• Vorübergehender Schutz — temporary protection, for example for people from war zones.
• Geduldete — people with a temporary right to stay (Duldung), who do not have a full residence permit but cannot be deported at the moment.

Your status affects your right to work, the type of social support you can get, and how much money you receive.

Your residence status directly affects which benefits you can get. At the beginning, while your asylum application is still being considered, you usually get support under the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz (AsylbLG). After you are granted protection or a residence permit, you can move to the general German social benefits system.

How Much Do Refugees Get in Germany?

At first, asylum seekers usually receive payments under the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz (AsylbLG). This money is meant to cover basic needs like food, clothing, personal hygiene and other everyday expenses.

The basic payment amount is set by the government and is reviewed from time to time. The amount you get depends on your residence status and where you live. Support under the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz (AsylbLG) has two parts:

• Persönlicher Bedarf — money for personal spending (pocket money).
• Notwendiger Bedarf — money for basic needs: food, clothes, household items and other essentials.

The amount you get can change depending on whether you live in a refugee centre or in your own accommodation.

Pocket Money for Refugees in Reception Centres (Erstaufnahmeeinrichtungen)

If refugees live in initial reception centres, many needs are provided directly by the state. For example, food, clothing and hygiene items may be given in kind instead of money.

In this case, refugees usually only receive pocket money (persönlicher Bedarf) — a small amount for personal expenses.

As of 1 January 2026, pocket money (persönlicher Bedarf) for one adult refugee living in a centre is 202.00 euros per month.

Table 2: Pocket Money for Refugees in Reception Centres (Erstaufnahmeeinrichtungen), as of 1 January 2026 ⁴

This money is for small personal expenses like transport, phone credit, clothes or other daily needs.

Benefits for Refugees Living Outside Reception Centres

If refugees live in shared accommodation or their own flats, they receive all payments in cash. In this case, both parts are paid: persönlicher Bedarf — money for personal needs and notwendiger Bedarf — money for food, clothing and household items.

If a refugee lives outside a centre and receives all support as cash, the total amount of benefit (persönlicher Bedarf + notwendiger Bedarf) as of 1 January 2026 for one adult is about 455.00 euros per month.

Table 3: Benefit Amounts for Refugees Living Outside Reception Centres as of 1 January 2026 ⁴

Apart from these payments, the state usually pays for housing, heating and utility bills, medical care and sometimes extra costs in special cases. So the actual support depends on which expenses are paid directly by the state and which are given as cash.

The support amount for refugees is usually lower than standard social benefits in Germany because some costs are covered directly by the state.

Bürgergeld for Refugees

Certain refugees in Germany can receive Bürgergeld, which is basic social support for people with low incomes. This benefit is regulated by the German Social Code (SGB II) and is meant for people who are able to work but cannot support themselves yet.

The right to Bürgergeld usually comes after getting a residence permit or one of the protection statuses ⁵. For example, it can be received by:

• people with Flüchtlingseigenschaft (refugee status);
• people with subsidiärem Schutz (subsidiary protection);
• people with Asylberechtigung (right to asylum);
• people with temporary protection.

After getting this status, a person moves from the asylum seekers’ system (Asylbewerberleistungen) to the general German social benefits system. The Bürgergeld rate is the same as the standard social benefit rates.

After being recognised as Asylberechtigte, Flüchtling or having subsidiärem Schutz, refugees can receive SGB II benefits (Bürgergeld) if they are able to work and do not have enough income ⁵.

Apart from the basic payment, the state usually pays:

• housing and heating costs;
• health insurance;
• integration courses and training programmes;
• extra payments for families with children.

Bürgergeld is the main form of social support for refugees who have already received a residence permit and are allowed to work in Germany.

Help with Integration and Finding Work

Apart from money payments, Germany offers various support programmes to help refugees learn German, get job training and find work. The aim of these programmes is to help people integrate into society more quickly and become financially independent.

The main types of support are:

• Integration courses (Integrationskurse): German language lessons and information about life in Germany. These help you prepare for work and everyday life.
• Vocational training and retraining: refugees can take part in programmes to improve their skills or learn a new profession.
• German language courses for work: special language programmes to help you get ready for employment.
• Help finding a job: advice at the Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit, help with writing CVs and looking for vacancies.
• Support programmes when starting work: sometimes the state can give extra payments or pay for training when you start a job.

The organisations responsible for these programmes are usually the Jobcenter, Agentur für Arbeit and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) ⁶.

Frequently Asked Questions about Unemployment Benefits in Germany