Controversial Payment Card for Asylum Seekers: Refugees Exchange Vouchers for Cash

The implementation of a payment card system for asylum seekers in Brandenburg has sparked significant debate. Under this new system, refugees have begun exchanging supermarket vouchers for cash to circumvent a cash withdrawal limit imposed by the government. This situation has prompted local refugee initiatives to organize exchange markets aimed at assisting those affected.

In regions such as Seelow, located in the Märkisch-Oderland district, community members have been actively participating in these exchange markets. Here, refugees purchase vouchers worth approximately 20 euros each month, which are then exchanged for cash by local residents. Similar actions have been reported in areas such as Strausberg and Berlin-Kreuzberg.

Opposition to the payment card system is growing among refugee advocacy groups, who argue that the program is discriminatory. Asylum seekers now receive a portion of their state benefits as a balance on a chip card rather than in cash. The government has set a monthly cash withdrawal limit of 50 euros for adult refugees.

This shift to a card-based system is intended to prevent migrants from sending money to smugglers or relatives abroad. Starting from 2025, a single adult refugee will be entitled to 441 euros, which will be loaded onto their payment card to cover living expenses. However, the monthly cash withdrawal cap has raised concerns among critics, who argue that it is insufficient for meaningful participation in society, especially in rural areas where cashless payments may not be widely accepted.

In Seelow, community activists Sabine Grauel and Jutta Krause have been organizing exchange events since last October to protest against the payment card system. These events are hosted in a local church, which also provides a welcoming café for refugees. The initiative has garnered support from around 20 locals who regularly order vouchers, which refugees then exchange for cash.

One participant described how he exchanges vouchers for cash, highlighting the necessity for flexibility in accessing funds for essentials such as transportation or legal assistance. These grassroots efforts aim to empower refugees in navigating the limitations imposed by the new payment system.

In contrast, the situation has led to tensions in Bavaria, where the ruling CSU party has expressed intentions to outlaw these exchange markets, labeling them as a form of 'leftist circumvention industry.'

As more districts in Brandenburg begin to issue payment cards, the transition process is ongoing. Initial implementation in Märkisch-Oderland began in May last year, with other districts now following suit. The Landkreistag Brandenburg has indicated that certain payments, such as for public transport tickets and mobile contracts, will eventually be possible through the card system.

The controversial cash withdrawal limit has been a point of contention among local politicians, with calls for a reassessment of the policy due to its impact on refugees' daily lives. Critics emphasize that the existing limit is inadequate for refugees to engage fully in community life.

On March 21, coinciding with the International Day Against Racism, a nationwide network will hold a day of action opposing the payment card system. The Brandenburg Refugee Council has criticized this approach as a method of control and surveillance, advocating for increased participation in voucher exchanges between locals and refugees.