Overview
- The payment card system, designed to replace cash benefits for refugees, faces criticism for being discriminatory and impractical.
- Technical issues, including software integration challenges, have delayed the rollout in Schleswig-Holstein until late 2025.
- Opposition is mounting in cities like Lübeck, Flensburg, and Potsdam, with some municipalities refusing to adopt the system entirely.
- The cards limit monthly cash withdrawals to 50 euros for adults, sparking concerns about everyday accessibility and integration barriers.
- Refugee advocacy groups and local initiatives have organized workaround systems, such as voucher exchanges, to bypass the cash limits.