Germany rolls out new deal for asylum seekers

By Jan Brinkhus, dpa I Wednesday, Jan.31, 2024

 

BERLIN – Germany will provide at least some welfare benefits for asylum seekers on pre-loaded cards instead of cash in the future, after German state leaders largely agreed on a new common standard to be introduced this summer.

The switch is partly intended to prevent migrants from transferring welfare benefits back to relatives or friends in their home country, an issue that has been raised by some German politicians.

It should also streamline the distribution of benefits and ease the administrative burden on local government authorities.

Fourteen of Germany’s 16 federal states agreed on the new card format, according to Boris Rhein, the premier of the western state of North Rhine Westphalia and the co-chairman of the committee that brings together all 16 state premiers to coordinate policy.

People who have applied for asylum in Germany are eligible to receive certain welfare benefits as well as special support in the event of serious illness or pregnancy.

The two other states, Bavaria and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, also intend to introduce a card for migrants but will pursue their own standard.

Rhein argued that introducing a payment card to replace cash benefits would help reduce the incentives for illegal migration to Germany.

“We are reducing the administrative burden on local authorities, preventing the possibility of transferring money from state support to home countries and thus combating the inhumane crime of human smuggling,” he said.

Rhein said the the cards should be usable for a wide range of payments, but will not function abroad. He also said that card-to-card transfers and other transfers in Germany and abroad are also not planned.

“A payment card will make cash payments to asylum seekers largely unnecessary,” said Lower Saxony’s Premier Stephan Weil.

“At the same time, we want to make it easier for people with prospects of remaining in Germany to take up regular employment and get out of the benefit system as quickly as possible,” Weil added.