Germany persists in advocating for financial assistance for its citizens while overseas
The Federal Employment Agency (BA) in Germany is making changes to its guidance on unemployment benefits, specifically reducing support in foreign languages, particularly Arabic. These adjustments, according to a BA spokesperson, are due to budget constraints and shifting policy priorities.
The BA's English-language advertising for basic security, known colloquially as "foreigners' money," will continue to feature smiling migrants. However, the guidance on receiving financial support, housing, heating, and medical treatment without a job will no longer be available in Arabic.
The BA's decision comes amidst broader governmental austerity measures aimed at consolidating the federal budget. These measures have led to cuts in certain social support programs and services, such as the termination of bonus payments to Citizens’ Income claimants who completed job-related training.
The AfD (Alternative for Germany) had previously described the previous guidance as "an open invitation to welfare tourism." However, the BA did not address this statement directly.
It's worth noting that half of those receiving basic security do not have a German passport. The black-red coalition has increased spending on basic security by another 10 percent in the new budget draft, but the BA did not specify any changes in this spending.
The BA intends to provide potential future recipients of basic security with early information, but it will only provide the 'short information on basic security' in German and easy-to-understand language, currently available in Arabic, Bulgarian, English, French, Farsi, Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian, and Turkish. From 2026, the filling instructions for basic security application forms in Ukrainian, Russian, and English will be abolished.
The basic security benefit costs the federal government alone 52 billion euros, but the BA did not comment on this cost or the colloquial term for the benefit.
Among the other 50 percent of basic security recipients are various dual citizens and naturalized immigrants with a migration background.
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Finance Minister's upcoming budget proposal may include a discussion on the consolidation of social support programs, considering the recent reductions in foreign language support for unemployment benefits, such as Arabic by the Federal Employment Agency (BA). This move could be a response to the government's political priorities aimed at addressing budget constraints.
The ongoing shifts in policies regarding social support programs and services, including the termination of bonus payments for Citizens’ Income claimants who completed job-related training, highlight the broader austerity measures being implemented in Germany.
