Germany social welfare: 1.4 million people on long-term benefits

Data from the Federal Employment Agency reveals that approximately 1.4 million people in Germany have been receiving basic social security benefits for at least five years. Among those receiving long-term assistance, foreign nationals account for 37.8 percent. When looking at all social benefit recipients, the share of non-citizens rises to 46 percent. The highest concentrations of long-term beneficiaries are found in major cities, with immigrants making up about 45 percent of recipients in Berlin and 43 percent in Bremen.

In response to these figures, the AfD political party has proposed a mandate for able-bodied recipients who have been on benefits for more than six months to perform 15 hours of socially useful work per week. Under this proposal, those who refuse would receive only in-kind benefits or face a total loss of assistance. This proposal has faced criticism from other political factions, such as the CSU, which maintains that the core promise of the social system is to provide aid to anyone in need.