Overview

• The Bezahlkarte, operational since mid-March in six refugee reception centers, limits monthly cash withdrawals to 130 Euros for single adult asylum seekers.
• Municipal associations, including the Gemeinde- und Städtebund and Landkreistag, have criticized the card's technical issues and its deviation from national agreements.
• A meeting between Integration Minister Katharina Binz and municipal leaders, originally set for April 25, has been delayed due to scheduling conflicts and procedural disagreements.
• Key points of contention include the card's cash withdrawal limits and its controversial transfer function, which allows payments to be made directly through the system.
• Municipalities may join the system later this quarter, pending a cooperation agreement and active use of the state's infrastructure.