Saxony-Anhalt introduces innovative payment card for asylum seekers!

Saxony-Anhalt introduces innovative payment card for asylum seekers!

Sachsen-Anhalt, Deutschland - In Saxony-Anhalt, the payment card for asylum seekers is now used nationwide. The state is one of the pioneers of this initiative and has already issued around 8,500 tickets to beneficiaries. Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang emphasizes that this is an important step for the control and order in migration policy. The payment card is intended to avoid false incentives and increase transparency in state services. A central goal is to prevent money flows abroad and make the support of criminal smuggling structures difficult. These measures could prove to be just as crucial to promote integration policy in the country, such as [Meetingpoint-JL] (https://meetingpoint-jl.de/neuke/Artikel/200312-Sachsen-Anhalt-landesweit-Fuer-Asylbeparter-Auscht).

The payment card is a credit -based card with debit function that enables electronic payments. Asylum seekers receive a credit that corresponds to their claim to benefits according to the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act. The withdrawal of cash is limited to 50 euros per person and online payments are fundamentally excluded. Transfers and direct debits are only permitted in exceptional cases, for example for mobile phone contracts or the Germany ticket.

discussion about social rights

The introduction of the payment card is not undisputed. Critics see this a further restriction of the social rights of refugees. According to the Saxony-Anhalt Refugee Council, the card could be discriminatory in essential areas of life. It is argued that a massive campaign against refugees gives the impression that they only come to Germany because of the social benefits. However, scientific studies show that the rule of law, job opportunities and family ties are crucial for the choice of target country. The traffic light government also promised the further development of the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act in the coalition agreement, but it refuses to make fundamental changes, as cited by Refugee Council LSA.

At the same time, the current form only offers limited uses. It only works in shops that accept special reading devices and cannot be used in many areas such as flea markets and municipal festivals. These restrictions mean that refugees are exposed to everyday discrimination and stigmatization. A normal checking card that is free of discrimination and constitutional could make the payment card superfluous.

political background and outlook

The legal basis for the payment card has already been decided in the Bundestag and encounters changing reactions. The decision was made with the votes of the traffic lights as well as the AfD and the Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht group. The payment card is intended to reduce the administrative effort and ensure that government services are not transferred abroad. 14 out of 16 federal states have now agreed on a joint award procedure. The payment card will be introduced in other federal states from summer 2024, while Hamburg started implementation in February. Critics emphasize that such measures will not significantly reduce migration to Germany and that the desire for security, work and social contacts are in the foreground, such as [ZDF] (https://www.zdfheute.de/politik/de--asylletkretzer-einigung-amel-lecht-gesgesetz-lecht-gesetz-gesetz-gesetz-gesetz-lecht.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the discussion about the payment card will develop and what influence this will have on the reality of life of asylum seekers.