Migration: Lindner: Fewer benefits for asylum seekers saves billions

The FDP is satisfied with the federal-state agreement to finance migration costs. The planned restriction on benefits for asylum seekers could lead to savings of one billion euros, wrote Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Tuesday morning on the X platform, formerly Twitter. This would not only relieve the burden on states and municipalities. “This measure also reduces the attractiveness of the German welfare state,” said the FDP leader.

FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr described it as a “milestone” in German migration policy on Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann told the German Press Agency: “Too many people are coming to Germany who are dependent on our welfare state. It is an important sign that the federal and state governments have jointly agreed to reduce disincentives for migration.” There is scope for the amount and duration of benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act. With the decision by the federal and state governments, it is clear that there is a consensus to use these. “We must not waste any time now, but must work quickly to achieve a migration turnaround through fewer pull factors,” warned Buschmann.

The heads of government of the federal states and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) negotiated until Tuesday morning. Their agreement provides for a system change in the financing of refugee costs, and benefits for asylum seekers are also to be reduced. If procedures drag on, in the future only basic benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act should be paid for not just 18, but 36 months. The federal government also wants to check whether asylum procedures are possible outside Europe. Asylum procedures should be processed more quickly. Especially for people from countries with a recognition rate of less than five percent, the asylum process should be completed in three months.