The eligibility age for basic security benefits has been gradually raised to 67 years for those born in 1947 and later, with the current age limit set at 66 years for individuals born in that year.

This increase in Ukrainian recipients significantly contributed to the overall growth in basic security beneficiaries, albeit at a reduced rate compared to the previous year.

Notably, 58.6 percent of these recipients were elderly individuals, highlighting a significant demographic within the total.

The increase in beneficiaries can be partly attributed to the adjustment of benefit rates that took effect on January 1, 2024, which broadened eligibility.

As of the end of 2024, approximately 1.26 million individuals were receiving benefits from Germany's basic security system for the elderly and those with reduced earning capacity, reflecting an increase of about 49,000 or 4.1 percent from the previous year.

The Federal Statistical Office reports a growing trend of financial insecurity among the elderly in Germany, contributing to an increase in old-age poverty.

Basic security is designed for adults who are permanently fully disabled or unable to sustain themselves through their own income and assets, which includes seniors with insufficient pensions.

To qualify for old-age basic security, individuals must meet an age threshold of between 65 and 67 years, depending on their year of birth, and demonstrate an inability to secure their livelihood.

More than 700,000 individuals aged 65 and older received these benefits, marking a 7.1 percent increase compared to December 2023.

Approximately 41 percent of recipients, or around 522,000 individuals, received benefits due to permanent full disability, a figure that remained stable from the previous year.

The number of recipients under working age receiving benefits due to reduced earning capacity also remained stable at around 522,000 by the end of 2024.

The number of Ukrainian refugees receiving basic security benefits rose from approximately 87,000 in December 2023 to about 99,000 in December 2024, representing a 14.6 percent increase, although this growth was slower than the previous year's 18.8 percent.