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Payment cards for refugees: Northwest Mecklenburg is making progress!
The introduction of payment cards for refugees in northwest Mecklenburg to improve social services will begin on October 31, 2025.
Payment cards for refugees: Northwest Mecklenburg is making progress!
Something is happening in northwest Mecklenburg: Since mid-May 2023, refugees in the region have been able to use payment cards to make their everyday purchases. The new regulation replaces the previous cash payments with a modern credit system. This not only means relief for those affected, but also a significant improvement in the traceability of expenses. However, this transition was not made without challenges.
District Administrator Tino Schomann (CDU) was critical of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state government and complained that formal errors had postponed the introduction of payment cards. In fact, there was a problem in concluding the contract with the provider, which led to the delay, while other districts such as Schwerin or Ludwigslust-Parchim have been able to rely on this regulation since March and April 2023, respectively. As recently as September 30, 2023, 453 active payment cards were issued, with services for a total of 549 people in the region. These cards can be used like a debit card and offer the advantage that up to 50 euros in cash can be withdrawn free of charge every month.
Gradual introduction and expansion
Currently, newly assigned people from initial reception centers are the first to benefit from the payment cards. In the long term, however, there are plans to expand this service to all asylum seekers living in the district. The aim is to completely switch from cash payments to payment cards by the end of the third quarter of 2025. In practice, this means that anyone who is in the asylum procedure and is entitled to benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act can use the payment card in the future.
However, one challenge with the introduction is the general criticism of the setting of the cash withdrawal limit. With a maximum of 50 euros per month per household person, many asylum seekers remain below the amount required for their basic needs. The Ludwigslust-Parchim district, on the other hand, reports positive experiences with the monthly transfer of asylum seeker benefits directly to the accounts of those affected.
The situation of refugees in northwest Mecklenburg
The payment cards represent progress for the refugees in northwest Mecklenburg, even if there is still a lot to be improved. Schomann emphasizes that an earlier independent implementation could have been implemented much more quickly and that the availability of the payment card lags behind compared to other districts. Factors like these show that there is still a lot of work to be done in the future to optimize support for refugees in the region.
Overall, it remains to be seen how the system will develop and what further steps can be implemented to improve the quality of life for refugees.