As of: February 5, 2024, 7:22 a.m
By: Felix Herz
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From the summer, asylum seekers will receive state benefits via a payment card.
This is now being tested in three Bavarian districts and one city.
Günzburg – In November 2023, it was decided to introduce a payment card for asylum seekers in 14 federal states.
Bavaria is taking a pioneering role and the CSU is pushing the pace.
The payment card will be used across the Free State as early as summer.
In order to test the introduction, there will soon be a pilot phase with four Bavarian regions.
Payment card for asylum seekers: Pilot phase in Bavaria is imminent
One of the pilot regions is Günzburg: “I am very pleased that the Günzburg district was selected as a pilot municipality.
The introduction of a payment card is a useful means of making administration more efficient,” said District Administrator Hans Reichhart (CSU) in a district press release.
The pilot phase in Günzburg is an “important step towards efficient and secure administration of social benefits,” it is said.
The payment card (pictured: illustration) for asylum seekers will soon be tested in four Bavarian municipalities.
© picture alliance/dpa |
Patrick Pleul / Wolfgang Maria Weber / IMAGO / Merkur collage
The other three regions - two additional districts and one city - in which the payment card is being tested are Traunstein, Straubing and Fürstenfeldbruck.
In Traunstein, according to the BR, District Administrator Siegfried Walch (CSU) campaigned vehemently for the introduction of the payment card.
In Straubing, too, the CSU mayor Markus Pannermayr welcomes the payment card and the pilot project that will soon start.
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The procurement process should be completed in February – then it will begin
The payment card should arrive as quickly as possible.
The Bavarian CSU government makes this clear.
The award process for who will take on the technically demanding implementation of the card should be completed in February.
The pilot phases of the four Bavarian regions will start in March.
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In a video from the Bavarian State Ministry about the payment card for asylum seekers on X (formerly Twitter), Interior State Secretary Sandro Kirchner (CSU) says: “The federal government has only now established the issuing criteria.
It will be issued sometime in June and we don't yet know when the payment card will be available." In Bavaria, they wanted to be quick.
Kirchner was also happy that you only have to meet the federal minimum standards, but you have the opportunity to set your own criteria and features.
The main purpose of the payment card for asylum seekers is to prevent refugees from sending money to relatives in their home countries.
Withdrawals from payment cards are therefore limited to the legal minimum, transfers are not possible and the card can only be used in the refugees' approved residence area, writes the BR.
Overall, it is also about reducing immigration by reducing incentives.
(fhz)
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