Increase in basic security due to the war in Ukraine

Increase in basic security due to the war in Ukraine

More and more people in Germany are receiving basic security in old age and in cases of reduced earning capacity, which is partly due to the Russian war in Ukraine. Basic security serves as support to counteract poverty in old age. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), there was an increase in services in this area in December 2023 compared to the previous year.

In December 2023, a total of over 1.2 million people received basic security benefits in old age and in cases of reduced earning capacity in accordance with Book Twelf of the Social Security Code. This corresponded to an increase of 1.9 percent compared to December 2022. Over 56.9 percent of recipients received basic security in old age, which corresponded to an increase of 4.7 percent compared to the same month last year. About 43.1 percent received benefits due to permanent total disability.

A well-known factor for the increase in refugees from Ukraine entitled to benefits is the ongoing emergency in their home country due to the Russian war of aggression. The number of refugees from Ukraine eligible for benefits rose from 73,060 in December 2022 to 86,775 in December 2023, an increase of 18.8 percent. Since June 1, 2022, Ukrainian refugees have been entitled to benefits under Book Twelfth of the Social Code instead of the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.

The tragic situation in Ukraine, caused by Russia's long-term violence, has meant that many Ukrainians have been forced to flee and seek protection in Germany. The war in Ukraine, which has affected all of Ukraine since February 24, 2022, led to numerous atrocities and displacement-like conditions that forced the population to flee.