Munich – The Social Affairs Department of Munich has cautioned the federal government against retroactively applying the AsylbLG to Ukrainian refugees. “Any such change should only apply to newly arriving individuals and must not be enforced retroactively,” the authority stated. Additionally, municipalities must be given sufficient lead time for implementation, and all resulting administrative costs must be fully covered.
Retroactive Changes? Munich Foresees Major Problems
The coalition government of the CDU/CSU and SPD agreed in their coalition agreement that, starting April 1, 2025, newly arrived Ukrainian refugees—like other asylum seekers—should only receive benefits under the AsylbLG. However, since June 2022, Ukrainians have been receiving citizen’s allowance (Bürgergeld) under Social Code Book II (SGB II), as decided by the federal and state governments at the time. An official reform aligning with the coalition’s plans has yet to be implemented, meaning even newly arrived Ukrainians currently continue to receive Bürgergeld.
Munich’s appeal was prompted by a demand from Bavaria’s Minister-President Markus Söder (CSU). During a ZDF summer interview, Söder called for cutting support for all Ukrainian refugees—including retroactively—going beyond the federal government’s plans and announcing his intention to push this through in the coalition.
The city of Munich warns of significant practical challenges if the federal government follows Söder’s proposal. “Retroactive changes, regardless of the group affected, would overwhelm municipal administrations and are unworkable,” emphasized Dorothee Schiwy, head of the Social Affairs Department. Municipalities would then have to independently review all benefit claims, issue decisions, and process payments—without additional resources. “This would effectively paralyze the administration.” Moreover, it remains unclear whether Munich would even receive a fair share of the federal compensation payments.
Criticism of “Two-Tier System” – But Clear Demands for Reform
The city has long criticized the unequal treatment of Ukrainian refugees compared to other asylum seekers, Schiwy noted. “Nevertheless, any switch to AsylbLG benefits must apply exclusively to newly arriving Ukrainians—not retroactively.”
Job Center Support at Risk
Another concern raised by the Social Affairs Department is the impact on labor market integration. Currently, Ukrainian refugees receive comprehensive support from job centers, including language courses, job application training, and help finding childcare. Switching to AsylbLG would eliminate this targeted assistance, potentially jeopardizing Bavaria’s high employment rate of 39%. Instead, unclear responsibilities between municipalities and employment agencies would arise.
“Unlike with Bürgergeld, the AsylbLG currently does not require beneficiaries to accept work or use counseling services,” the department warned. If the federal government fails to introduce mandatory regulations here, it would create additional bureaucratic burdens for municipalities.
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