Controversial decision
Federal Council approves payment card for asylum seekers
An asylum seeker shows one of the first Bavarian payment cards in the anchor center
© Sven Hoppe / DPA
Some federal states have already introduced payment cards for asylum seekers, and the Federal Council has now given final approval. The traffic light is hoping for a lot from the map – the opposition is conflicting about one point.
The payment card for, which has long been controversial in the traffic light coalition Asylum seekers were approved by the Federal Council without much debate. The federal regulation on such cards is actually superfluous, as the states could have introduced the payment cards without them, said Thuringia’s Migration Minister Doreen Denstädt (Greens) on Friday in Berlin. Since the regulation that has now been found for the means of payment has been designed in such a way that the social and cultural participation of refugees remains guaranteed, there is nothing that speaks against approving the draft.
Several states had asked the federal government to create a legal framework for payment cards. In the future, asylum seekers should receive part of the state’s living expenses as credit on the card. There should be fewer cash payments. Among other things, this is intended to prevent migrants from transferring money to smugglers or family and friends abroad. In recent months, politicians from the Green Party in particular have called for the draft law to be formulated in such a way that a significant restriction on the rights of refugees in individual regions is ruled out.
The federal states in particular had pushed for the regulation. You can decide for yourself whether you actually introduce the card and how you plan to use it. Some federal states had already introduced payment cards for asylum seekers at state level. Thanks to Friday’s change, it is now also anchored in the nationwide Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.
Traffic light hopes for bureaucratic relief
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the state prime ministers agreed on the introduction of the card on November 6th. The law now states that the service authorities can decide for themselves how much cash cardholders can withdraw within a certain period of time. This takes “individual needs and local circumstances” into account.
“The regulation also enables the benefit authorities, when exercising their discretion, to take into account circumstances due to which the use of a payment card does not appear appropriate in individual cases,” it said after the vote in the Bundestag. This could be the case, for example, if people receive their salary into their own checking account. Regulations were also adopted that are intended to facilitate the exchange of data between immigration and social authorities. “We avoid unnecessary effort and complications that arise, for example, when data on paper has to be recorded again digitally,” said Faeser.
The police union (GdP) warned against keeping the amount of cash given to refugees too low. Refugees are often under pressure to cover the medical costs of their families in their country of origin or owe money to smugglers. This pressure situation will not disappear with the payment card and could also affect the security of the remaining families in their home countries, explained GdP federal chairman Jochen Kopelke. “If moderation is not maintained here, there is a risk that refugees will try to get the money they need through criminal activities.” Those affected should not be pushed into crime.
Union and AfD dissatisfied with payment card
The Greens did not consider a nationwide uniform regulation necessary. However, they agree with the regulation that has now been decided, as it is now guaranteed that no one will be forced out of society as a result, as deputy group leader Andreas Audretsch said. “Refugees who live in an apartment must be able to conclude an electricity contract, otherwise they will have no electricity. This was not clear in the regulations until now. Now we have regulated this completely clearly. Municipalities have to guarantee that.” FDP MP Stephan Thomae emphasized that with the card, asylum seekers no longer have to wait in line to receive money on the last working day of the month and no longer have to take large sums of money with them to shared accommodation.
CDU MP Detlef Seif explained that the card was not a panacea, but could help ensure that fewer asylum seekers move on to Germany within Europe. His party colleague Kai Whittaker condemned the project as inadequate because cash payments were not limited to 50 euros per month as requested by the Union, and there was no priority for payment cards.
AfD representatives accused the traffic light coalition of having an overly liberal migration policy. For his party, the following applies: “Our money is for our citizens and not for the whole world,” explained AfD politician Steffen Janich. BSW politician Alexander Ulrich said that the payment card does not solve the big problem of irregular migration, but is a way to make it better. The left-wing MP Clara Bünger, on the other hand, criticized the “disenfranchisement of refugees” and said that legal certainty was being lost.