What will happen to payments for Ukrainians in various countries in 2025?

What will happen to payments for Ukrainians in different countries in 2025

The list of countries that continue to provide financial assistance to Ukrainian refugees has significantly decreased. In 2025, some states have changed the conditions or the amount of funding.

It is also worth noting that certain countries, which canceled payments for refugees back in 2024, still continue to provide them with humanitarian and social assistance. This is reported by 24 Kanal.

Note. Currently, temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees is effective in EU countries until March 4, 2026.

What will happen to refugee payments in 2025: main changes

Germany

Germany has maintained the primary social assistance payments for Ukrainians (Bürgergeld), but has introduced additional conditions for receiving it.

Starting from January 2025, working-age refugees who refuse offered jobs, integration courses, or employment seminars will see their payments reduced:

• by -10% for 1 month for the first violation;
• by -20% for 2 months for a repeated violation;
• by -30% for 3 months for a third violation.

Those unable to work and families with children will continue to receive assistance at the usual level. The amount of payments has not changed.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has kept assistance for Ukrainians, but the amount now depends on income – people with lower salaries or those unable to work will receive more. Overall, state financial assistance is calculated as the difference between the received amount and the refugees' income.

The maximum assistance amount is 3,000 Czech crowns for adults and 4,500 crowns for children and persons with disabilities. A family of five or more can receive a maximum of 15,000 crowns.

It was previously reported that starting in 2025, the Czech Republic plans to increase humanitarian assistance for vulnerable categories of Ukrainians, but an official adoption of such a resolution has not yet occurred.

Latvia

Meanwhile, Latvia has even increased one-time crisis assistance for refugees from Ukraine by 24 – 34 euros. The current amount is 377 euros for adults and 264 euros for children.

Monthly financial assistance is provided to the most vulnerable categories of the population, but the amount depends on local budgets.

Austria

In 2025, Austria plans to change the rules for basic assistance for Ukrainian refugees. According to the proposed rules, if a person can afford to maintain a vehicle, including paying for insurance and fuel, they do not need state assistance.

This decision was made by the Coordination Council of the federal government and the states, but each state has the right to adapt the rules. For example, in Vienna, the situation will be assessed on a case-by-case basis: for instance, only owners of expensive cars may lose their right to assistance.

In Lower Austria, however, owning a vehicle of any class may become a barrier to receiving assistance.

Poland

Direct cash payments from the government for Ukrainians have been significantly reduced since mid-2024. However, holders of the PESEL UKR card can receive assistance through EU support programs or charitable foundations.

Additional payments from the government can be received by families with children (provided that the child attends daycare or school), low-income families, and people with disabilities.

Assistance programs for families with children that are active in Poland:

Active in Daycare Program	For working mothers with young children.
Family 800 Program	For parents of children up to 18 years old, if the child studies in a Polish school. The state provides 800 zlotys per month for one child.
Good Start Program	This is a one-time payment of 300 zlotys for preparing a child for school or university.

Slovakia

The Slovak authorities previously announced a reduction in assistance for refugees arriving in the country after February 2025.

In addition to shortening the allowed stay in shelters, financial support for living will also decrease.

The changes will not affect vulnerable categories of the population, namely: pensioners over 65, children under 5 years old, and single guardians of children.

In which countries is assistance for refugees still provided

We previously reported on which countries still provide assistance to Ukrainian refugees. Specifically, financial support from the government or organizations is provided by: Austria, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Romania, Moldova, Portugal, Slovakia, Ireland, France, and the USA.

The amount and conditions of this assistance vary by country. In some places, it is a one-time payment, while in others, it is provided regularly, and in some cases, it is only offered to vulnerable categories of refugees or those residing in shelters.

Other important changes for Ukrainians abroad not related to payments:

• Poland. Starting from 2025, Ukrainians with Pesel UKR will be able to apply for the CUKR residence card. This card allows them to legally stay in the country and work for 3 years. This card can be obtained by those Ukrainians who have a valid Pesel UKR status no later than March 4, 2024.
• Czech Republic. Starting in 2025, Ukrainian refugees will have the right to apply for a special long-term residence permit when registering for an extension of protection. However, this permit can only be obtained by those individuals who have a stable income and do not receive humanitarian assistance.
• Ireland. From March 2025, Ireland will end temporary free housing for Ukrainian refugees. Additionally, the government aims to limit the stay of newly arrived Ukrainians to 90 days.
• Switzerland. In Switzerland, protection (status S) will only be provided to those Ukrainians who have arrived from occupied or partially occupied territories of Ukraine, or from combat zones.

Conclusion. All indications suggest that Ukrainians who still plan to stay in the EU should socialize, learn the language, and most importantly – seek legal employment and their own housing. States provide opportunities for development and various free courses; the key is the desire to engage.

Vulnerable categories of the population, particularly mothers with children, pensioners, and people with disabilities, can still count on additional financial assistance in various countries from the government, local authorities, or various funds.

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