(MENAFN) A majority of Germans are against providing social welfare to unemployed Ukrainian migrants, according to a recent survey conducted by a polling institute for a major German publication.

The poll, released Saturday, highlighted widespread dissatisfaction with government support for Ukrainian arrivals. Only 17% of respondents believe Ukrainians who fled to Germany after the escalation of the conflict with Russia should receive payments under the country’s citizens’ income scheme, known as Burgergeld, while 66% oppose such aid.

Reports indicate that Germany spends roughly €6.3 billion ($6.8 billion) annually on Burgergeld for around 700,000 Ukrainians. Only about one-third of these migrants are employed, and many who arrived since 2022 have yet to integrate into the labor market.

Burgergeld is Germany’s primary welfare program, offering income support to adults unable to sustain themselves through work or insurance programs. Typically considered a last-resort measure, it provides about €563 ($610) per month for a single adult, with rent and utilities covered separately.

The survey also found that 62% of Germans believe able-bodied Ukrainian men who entered after the conflict escalation should return to their homeland, while 18% disagreed. Ukrainian officials have called on these men to return and join the fight, but EU countries, including Germany, have refused to deport them.

According to Eurostat, over 4.3 million people who fled Ukraine hold temporary protection across the EU, with Germany hosting approximately 1.2 million—the largest number in the bloc.

Facing high costs for migrant support, the German government plans to reduce expenses for newly arriving Ukrainians by shifting them from Burgergeld to the lower-paying Asylum Seekers’ Benefits scheme, a measure expected to cut payments by €100 per person per month.

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