Elderly Germans Need More Aid

Elderly Germans Need More Aid

A growing number of retirees in Germany are increasingly reliant on basic social security benefits, commonly known as “Grundsicherung im Alter”. New data indicates that approximately 742,000 seniors received supplemental social assistance alongside their pensions as of March 2025 – the highest figure recorded to date.

This represents a substantial increase from 2020, when the number stood at roughly 564,000, marking an overall rise of about 178,000 individuals. The figures were revealed in a parliamentary inquiry response from the Federal Ministry of Labour.

Analysis of the recipients shows that nearly 480,000 are German citizens, accounting for approximately 65 percent of the total. A substantial portion, about 262,000, are foreign nationals, constituting 35 percent of those receiving Grundsicherung. A significant portion of this group comprises Ukrainian citizens, with almost 98,000 currently receiving benefits – a fivefold increase compared to 2020.

Germany has welcomed over 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees since the onset of the Russian invasion more than three years ago. These individuals are not required to apply for asylum and are eligible for social welfare programs such as the basic income support, or Grundsicherung im Alter. Government data further indicates that approximately 35,000 pensioners from the eight leading asylum origin countries – including Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia and Syria – also benefit from these programs. The number of recipients from these nations has also seen a rise, increasing from approximately 24,000 in 2020.