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The Federal Employment Agency (BA) is relying on the SocialCard to pay citizen’s income to people who previously received a cheque. In Germany, this affects around 8,000 benefit recipients who previously received citizen’s income via the so-called ZzV procedure, i.e. by cheque. This option will no longer be available in future because Postbank is discontinuing the service.

The Federal Employment Agency (BA) is relying on the SocialCard to pay citizen’s income to people who previously received a cheque. In Germany, this affects around 8,000 benefit recipients who previously received citizen’s income via the so-called ZzV procedure, i.e. by cheque. This option will no longer be available in future because Postbank is discontinuing the service.

DSocialCard, a Visa debit card for the payment of social benefits, has been in use in 14 federal states since the end of 2024. During this time, cards in the six-figure range have already been issued. Now, the issuing benefit authorities are getting further simplifications: in addition to the existing integration into “LÄMMkom LISSA”, a connection to the two administrative solutions from “Prosoz” and “KDN.sozial” is now also available. This covers the most widely used specialist procedures in German municipalities and administrations.

The nationwide introduction of the payment card has been decided at the political level and will be implemented in stages starting in November 2024. Practical examples show that the system can function pragmatically and efficiently.

he SocialCard consortium has won the joint tender process launched by 14 German federal states to introduce a payment card system for refugees. With the amendment of the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, which came into force on 16 May 2024, uniform framework conditions have been created in Germany for the introduction of a corresponding payment card.

With the SocialCard, asylum seekers in Austria will soon have quick and easy access to their social benefits. The payment card will be issued to around 300 people in Steyr and Steyr-Land in Upper Austria as part of a pilot project starting on 1 July 2024.

SocialCard is now integrated into the “LÄMMkom LISSA” administrative software. Local authorities that use this specialist procedure can access the data stored there and create a SocialCard with a single click.

Since April, refugees and other benefit recipients in the Erzgebirgskreis district have been able to pay with the SocialCard. In future, they will no longer receive state benefits in cash, but in the form of a physical card or digitally for their smartphones.