Joint press release on the introduction of the payment card
- 4 min read
At the beginning of 2024, the period in which refugees were admitted was reduced by law Benefits received extended from 18 to 36 months. In 2025 they will be Benefits reduced up to 19 euros (individual). This gives you 22 %1 fewer benefits compared to the minimum citizen’s benefit. Many From 2025, individuals will illegally only receive 397 euros/month (around 30 % fewer). In 2025, these minimum funds will only be available through one Payment card granted.
According to a recent decree2 from the Ministry of Justice and for Migration (JuM) is intended to provide the payment card wide for “beneficiaries according to the AsylbLG” in Baden-Württemberg, also also in Freiburg, was introduced become. Even people who have lived here for several months/years and analog funds in the amount of citizens’ money received will be required to have a payment card from April 2025 can be. According to the law, this is illegal, because the Priority for money is (still) required by law. The money will then not more transferred to the current account, but to the payment card. Since transfer functions are blocked, a “Positive list” introduced so that necessary transfers can be made Rent, tickets etc. are possible. All of this must be done by the authorities be approved.
The payment card will initially be used in initial reception centers to newly arriving refugees and to those who do not yet have their own account, issued. From 2025 the payment card should be in the individual districts will be gradually enforced. The Cash withdrawal is up to 50 € per person per month limited. Although a decision must be made in each individual case, the state is urging the districts to generally enforce the Payment card. About a statistics tool “can be extensive Evaluations of the payment card are carried out," it says Decree. Will it happen at individual performance authorities “deviations from the average values” will occur the JuM “additional information request”. I.e. the individual performance authorities are controlled and put under pressure.
Anyone who works and spends more than 50 % earned income denies, the amount should be topped up AsylbLG benefits after three months on that Checking account received. You can make a purchase using the payment card Acceptance points for the card possible. However, one will “negative list” introduced, according to which dealer groups excluded. So e.g. B. also online marketplaces. That’s how they are Money transfers with the card are not possible. The Transfer and Direct debit function is limited. The Capital allowance on the payment card is 200 €. One The authorities are not allowed to view the account balance permitted, but can be “required or be enforced."
The CDU chairman Slawig3 from Wuppertal said the payment card serves to ensure that refugees stay in Germany becomes significantly less attractive"****. “The payment card is not credit card, but an instrument of control”, says the chairman of the Lower Saxony CDU state parliamentary group Lechner4. Refugees who apply for asylum rely on a positive right. Against the use of this right is well preventative, i.e. for deterrence, an authoritarian one Payment card introduced to make life “less attractive". The exercise of rights, too are internationally anchored, are punished by various Subsistence minimums and thus an extremely precarious life are imposed by the state become. That’s racist.
Enforcement of the payment card is a costly and complicated process Effort that countless federal and state authorities have to deal with, just with one The aim is to put official pressure on the lives of refugees. The state governments remain silent about the amount of expenditure.
We, the signatories, reject the introduction of the payment card and the enforcement of a “less attractive life” for refugees decided from. It’s not just that here The principle of equality is violated, but in autonomy and in the Self-determination of refugees intervened.
Keep your hands away from the authoritarian Pay card!
Critical Social Work Working Group (AKS)
Freiburg Right to Stay Campaign
Lea watch Freiburg
Working group of critical lawyers (akj)
iz3w
Salpetra art action group
Left List – Solidarity City
3 house project
Medinetz Freiburg
IN VIA Catholic Association for Girls’ and Women’s Social Work in the Archdiocese of Freiburg e.V.
r42 Sail and Rescue Freiburg
SUPPORTERS CREW FREIBURG e.V.
Initiative ‘Stop payment card’ Freiburg
Sarah-Louise Müller, Pastor Ev. Parish of Freiburg-Southwest
Birgit Heidke
Walter Bad
U. Fauth-Mayer
Michael Hartmann, pastoral advisor
Petra Hummel
Contact:
Initiative ‘Stop payment card’ Freiburg
freiburg@asylblg-abschaffen.de
Tel.: 0151 282 112 52
https://mediendienst-integration.de/migration/wandel-asyl/migrationwandel-asylbedarf.html#c1183
https://cdultnds.de/2024/07/05/bezahlkarte-ist-nicht-kreditkarte-sondern-ein-instrument-der-steuer/