State pays municipalities more money for refugees

Asylum seekers - State pays municipalities more money for refugees

Hessen pays more money to communes for the accommodation of refugees. The monthly per-head allowance for asylum seekers in the first reception is increased by ten percent, according to a decision by the black-red state government, retroactively from January 1, 2024, as announced by the Integration and Finance ministries in Wiesbaden.

Integration Minister Heike Hofmann (SPD) stated, in the coalition agreement it was agreed to adjust this allowance according to the Landesaufnahmegesetz (LAG) "in such a way that the increases in asylum seeker benefits and rising wage and energy costs are adequately reflected".

The inflation in 2023 was above the agreed annual increase of 1.5 percent of the monthly LAG allowance. According to the two responsible ministries, this monthly amount, depending on local circumstances, ranges between 904 and 1,098 Euro for accommodation, health, and asylum seeker benefits. Complaints about overburdening in city halls regarding the accommodation of asylum seekers have been heard regularly.

"Ten percent more: With this, the communes will receive an additional 40 million Euro just for 2024, and a total of 507 million Euro over the lump-sum payments from the state," said Finance Minister Alexander Lorz (CDU). "The increase is permanent. Moreover, the agreement stands that the allowances will be increased by 1.5 percent annually," he added.

These promises provide important planning security for the communes. Lorz continued: "We provide the communes in Hessen with a total of 760 million Euro for refugee aid in 2024 – significantly more than the planned 130 million Euro that we receive from the federal government for refugee aid for the state and municipalities."

1. The decision to increase the per-head allowance for asylum seekers in Wiesbaden, Hesse, was made by the black-red state government.
2. Asylum seekers in the first reception in Hesse will receive a ten percent higher monthly allowance, starting from January 1, 2024.
3. The coalition agreement in Hesse stipulates adjusting the allowance for asylum seekers according to the Landesaufnahmegesetz, ensuring that rising costs are accounted for.
4. The municipality's finances could be alleviated with the additional 40 million Euro allocated to accommodating asylum seekers in Hesse, starting from 2024, as pointed out by Finance Minister Alexander Lorz.
5. Migration-related issues have been a regular concern for city halls, with complaints of overburdening due to the accommodation of asylum seekers.
6. The BMF (Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community) provides less funding for refugee aid to Hesse compared to the total amount allocated by the state government, as highlighted by Finance Minister Lorz.

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