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Office for Migration

Payment card / social card - benefits according to AsylbLG

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The SocialCard is a Visa prepaid card and works without a deposited account.

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Detailed description

The SocialCard is a credit card from VISA and works without a deposited account. It allows quick and uncomplicated access to your financial benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act. You can use the amount as soon as it is loaded onto the card.
The SocialCard has no credit limit. You cannot make transfers from the SocialCard to an account and you cannot set up SEPA direct debit mandates.
You can use the SocialCard as a plastic card and with your smartphone. To use the SocialCard on your smartphone, you must first provide your mobile phone number to the Migration Office.
Further information about the SocialCard in general and how to use it on your smartphone can be found on the website of the provider Publk GmbH.

 

Information

Prerequisites

First-time receipt of benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act since February 15, 2024.

If you have already received money under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act before February 15, 2024, you will not receive a SocialCard, even if you live in the initial reception center.

Documents required

No documents are required. The social card is issued after the application for asylum seeker benefits has been completed.

Please note

You can use the Hamburger SocialCard to pay in stationary stores in Germany (for example in supermarkets and other shops or at service providers such as hairdressers, Deutsche Bahn, etc.). A PIN is required to pay with the SocialCard. The PIN is either sent to the customer's smartphone via SMS or can be requested online at http://www.socialcard.de/user/pin.
You cannot use the SocialCard abroad or on the Internet. It also does not work for money transfers or cash services, for purchasing vouchers or for gambling.
You can pay with the SocialCard wherever VISA cards are accepted. Look for the VISA logo in the store or ask!
Each adult (aged 18 and over) can withdraw 50 euros in cash per month.
An additional 10 euros per month can be withdrawn per minor (up to 18 years of age).
Cash can be withdrawn from bank ATMs (fees apply) and in shops (free of charge). Withdrawals from ATMs cost 2 euros per withdrawal. Here you can find an overview of shops where you can withdraw cash for free. To withdraw money in a shop, you usually have to buy goods worth at least 5 to 10 euros.
If you move out of the initial reception centre (and move into subsequent accommodation or, as an exception, are allowed to live privately), there is no cash restriction as long as your credit balance has not been used up.

Procedure

You will receive the SocialCard from the Migration Office.
The money is automatically and digitally loaded onto the SocialCard by the Migration Office.
You can check your balance at any time using the Secupay app ( more information here) and on the website https://www.socialcard.de/user.
Every person over 18 gets their own SocialCard - even children in a family who are over 18. The money for children under 18 is loaded onto the mother or father's SocialCard. You decide.
You no longer have to go to an authority or cash desk to top up your SocialCard every month - neither to the Migration Office nor to the District Office.
Cash withdrawals will no longer be made, not even at the cash desk of the Wandsbek district office.

Fees

The social card is free of charge.


When using the social card, the following costs may be incurred by the cardholder:


When you withdraw cash:


Free when you make a purchase in the store. The minimum purchase is 5 to 10 euros. Here you can find an overview of the stores where you can withdraw cash for free .


2.00 euros per withdrawal at an ATM.

If you pay in store: Free up to 20 payments per month. 0.08 euros per payment from the 21st payment per month. Higher fees may apply in exceptional cases:


  • Disputed payment orders: 20.00 euros - see the user agreement on page 3 under "Dealing with non-executed or incorrectly executed payment orders".

  • Rejected chargebacks: 25.00 euros.

Address and contact information

Office for Migration

Services for Asylum Seekers Unit M43

Since February 15, 2024, the Office for Migration has been issuing a payment card/social card (Hamburger SocialCard) to benefit recipients under the Asylum Seeker Benefits Act (AsylbLG) when they receive benefits for the first time and are resident in a Hamburg initial reception facility.

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Last updated: 05.11.2024