Germany’s generous monthly payments to asylum seekers are under scrutiny as Friedrich Merz faces pressure to stem record migration numbers.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

As Friedrich Merz attempts to convince voters of his commitment to curbing mass asylum migration, a mounting challenge remains: Germany’s asylum payouts are the most generous in Europe and, critics argue, are acting as a powerful magnet drawing migrants from across the continent.

According to a report in Bild, Germany currently offers asylum seekers more in monthly support than any other European Union member state. The outlet asserts that neighboring countries are fully aware of this disparity and, as a result, are content to “happily wave the migrants through” toward Germany.

The figures are stark. Approved asylum seekers in Germany are granted €563 per month through the Bürgergeld (citizen’s allowance) program, in addition to taxpayer-covered housing and health insurance. Even before asylum claims are adjudicated, applicants receive €441 per month plus accommodation—nearly double the €236 offered in Denmark or the €210 available in France. In Poland, the monthly rate for approved applicants is €160, also excluding additional costs like rent.

Perhaps most controversially, Germany continues to provide this support even to individuals whose asylum claims have been rejected—an outlier among EU countries, many of which cut off assistance once legal protection is denied.

The scale of financial outflows has sparked renewed political backlash. Figures released last month show that nearly half of all welfare spending in Germany now goes to non-citizens. René Springer, a Bundestag member from the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, posted that “our welfare state is becoming the prey of the world,” calling urgently for a policy shift.

“Time for a policy that protects our country!” he added.

Despite calls for pan-European coordination, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking alongside Merz at a press event last week, made it clear that the issue of financial entitlements remains a domestic matter. “Migration is a common European challenge and it needs a common European solution,” she said—but stopped short of addressing the specific burden posed by Germany’s comparatively generous asylum benefits.

Now, Merz must navigate the political minefield of reducing payouts without triggering legal challenges or backlash from human rights groups. As his party walks a tightrope between rising voter frustration and Germany’s legal obligations to asylum seekers, the sustainability of the nation’s current welfare model for migrants is coming under unprecedented scrutiny. Whether reform is enacted swiftly enough may determine not only Merz’s political future but also the trajectory of Germany’s migration policies for years to come.