In recent months, the number of foreigners receiving German social benefits has sharply increased
As Russkaya Germaniya writes, as of early May 2016, 26% of all 'welfare recipients' were not citizens of the Federal Republic. Thus, the total number of foreigners whose living needs are financed exclusively by the German state currently amounts to 1.54 million people, which is 170,000 more (plus 12.4%) than in May 2015. At the same time, the number of German citizens receiving welfare declined by 240,000 (minus 5.2%) to 4.36 million over this period.
As statisticians note, on average only 7.7% of German citizens receive Hartz IV benefits, compared to 18% of foreigners. The largest number of foreign welfare recipients are from Turkey – 295,260 people. They are followed by citizens of Syria (242,391) and Poland (92,506). Compared to 2015, the largest increase in benefit recipients was recorded among citizens of Eritrea (plus 229.4%) and Syria (195.1%). Experts link these figures to a sharp increase in the 'immigration flow' into Germany last year, including an increase in the number of refugees.
The Employment Agency also notes that among welfare recipients, there are more and more residents of Germany, both citizens and foreigners, aged over 55. At the end of 2010, there were only 140,000 people in this age group who had been unable to find work for more than four years; by the end of last year, that number had risen to 195,000 (plus 40%). Thus, almost two-thirds (64%) of all state aid recipients over 55 have been welfare recipients for more than four years.