Law is fixed
Germany: Asylum payment card to be introduced nationwide
After a long back and forth, the coalition government in Berlin has now agreed on a law that will allow the nationwide introduction of the payment card for asylum seekers. The Greens had previously opposed the amendment.
The stumbling block was an amendment to the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act. This would have been necessary in order to introduce the payment card for asylum seekers nationwide. The Greens had previously rejected this change, and even a word of power from party leader Omid Nouripour had no effect, reports Bild.
"Stop the financing of smuggling gangs"
An agreement has now been reached after all, as FDP parliamentary group deputy leader Lukas Köhler explains: "With this agreement, we are creating a turnaround in migration and stopping the financing of illegal smuggling gangs. This will bring order to our asylum system and combat a key incentive for irregular immigration."
Cashless shopping
Refugees in Germany should be able to make cashless purchases - just like with a debit card. The individual countries can also limit use to a specific region. Cash withdrawals are only possible up to a certain monthly amount. The amount of this so-called "pocket money" is to be decided by the respective federal states themselves in future.
This will take into account "the individual needs and circumstances on the ground". "The regulation also allows the benefit authorities to take circumstances into account when exercising their discretionary powers if the use of a payment card does not appear appropriate in individual cases," the draft continues.
The payment card will only work in Germany and not abroad. In addition, overdrafts, card-to-card transfers and other transfers in Germany and abroad are excluded.
Soon in Austria too?
The German idea is also finding favor in some places in Austria. A pilot project is currently being developed, and the regional ÖVP party has spoken out in favor of a test run in Upper Austria.
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