A recent survey conducted by Deutschlandtrend for public broadcaster WDR has found that two-thirds of Germans believe immigrants should only receive welfare benefits if they have worked in the country for a considerable length of time. The poll also revealed that a majority of respondents support the introduction of a wealth levy and higher inheritance taxes.
Immigration and Welfare
The survey indicated that 66% of voters think migrants should only be able to access benefits after working in Germany for a 'fairly long time'. This stance aligns with the position of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and has been partially implemented in Denmark. Since 2021, some migrants in Denmark have been required to work 37 hours per week to receive benefits, with restrictions placed on those who have received welfare for three to four years and have not achieved a certain level of Danish proficiency.
In the United Kingdom, similar concerns have emerged. The Daily Mail reported in February that £15 billion in benefits had been given to migrant households in just 18 months. Furthermore, the number of migrants and refugees claiming universal credit has more than doubled since 2022, despite government pledges to crack down on welfare access. According to the Department for Work and Pensions, 124,833 claimants with refugee status were receiving universal credit as of last October, averaging just over £1,000 per month. An additional 53,240 people were classed as unable to be returned to their home countries due to human rights concerns. In April 2022, the figures were 64,423 refugees and 3,221 people with humanitarian status.
Wealth Distribution and Taxation
The German survey also highlighted widespread discontent with wealth distribution, as four out of five voters said wealth was unfairly distributed in the country. Many respondents felt that middle and low earners pay too much tax. Support for a wealth tax and higher inheritance tax varied across party lines: 88% of Green party voters backed higher inheritance tax, followed by 78% of SPD supporters and 64% of CDU voters. In contrast, 62% of AfD voters opposed a wealth tax.
Political Context
Germany's ruling 'grand coalition' of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) is engaged in protracted negotiations over a major reform package aimed at reviving the sluggish economy. The coalition has been squeezed by the AfD, which has extended its lead in national polls. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government recently slashed its growth forecast for this year by half, to 0.5%, amid the US-led war in Iran. Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) has advocated shifting the tax burden to richer citizens, cutting inheritance tax exemptions, and increasing public borrowing. In contrast, Mr Merz's CDU prefers broader tax cuts, austerity, and private sector deregulation, arguing that the welfare system, costing 31% of GDP, is unsustainable.
Meanwhile, in the UK, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's plans to extend the waiting period for migrants to obtain indefinite leave to remain face a legal challenge from campaigners. Current rules allow migrants to apply for settlement after five years, but proposed reforms would extend this to ten years for most migrants and twenty years for refugees.
