Brandenburg could become a model for payment cards
Brandenburg wants to introduce the planned payment card for asylum seekers as a model state if possible. Finance Minister Katrin Lange (SPD) said on Friday in response to an inquiry that a federal and state working group would first have to wait to prepare a model payment card by the end of January 2024. "However, Brandenburg is indeed interested in a rapid introduction and is therefore happy to be available as a (model) federal state for the introduction." The "Tagesspiegel" reported on this earlier on Friday.
Last Monday, the federal and state governments agreed that asylum seekers in Germany should receive at least part of their benefits as credit on a payment card system in future. Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) had previously proposed such a chip card. In his opinion, this should also prevent money from flowing abroad. The chairman of the district council, Oberspreewald-Lausitz District Administrator Siegurd Heinze (non-party), is also in favor of the rapid introduction of a payment card.
However, the red-black-green coalition in Brandenburg is not in agreement as to whether such a chip card makes sense. Integration Minister Ursula Nonnemacher (Greens) had expressed concerns. After a meeting between the government and local authorities in October, the Green politician said that asylum seekers outside the initial reception area were generally entitled to cash benefits first.
Brandenburg's interest in serving as a (model) federal state for the introduction of the payment card system for asylum seekers could potentially influence other federal states to adopt similar policies. Despite some disagreements within the Brandenburg coalition, the federal and state governments have agreed on the use of payment cards for asylum seekers, with the aim of preventing money from flowing abroad.
Source: www.dpa.com
