By Bernhard Kirschner
The initiative by refugee organizations in Tübingen to exchange cash for vouchers with refugees has been well received. In February 2025, the Tübingen District Office began issuing payment cards to refugees who receive money under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.
Since 2024, local authorities have been allowed to transfer cash benefits for asylum seekers to a payment card. This allows them to pay in many retail stores or buy vouchers. They can withdraw 50 euros per month. They cannot shop in stores that do not have card readers or at flea markets. Refugee initiatives are not willing to accept this. That is why the initiative “Bank card for all instead of payment card” in Tübingen has been offering the option of exchanging cash for vouchers since March. These can be purchased in supermarkets, drugstores, and discount stores.
Slow start for the exchange program in Tübingen
The program at the Tübingen community center in Bachgasse got off to a slow start, said Nora Plemper from the initiative tuenews INTERNATIONAL when asked. Apparently, word had not yet spread about the exchange, which takes place every Monday between 5:30 and 7 p.m. After the initiative distributed flyers with information at initial reception centers in the Tübingen district in May, demand increased significantly.
Great solidarity with refugees
Plemper is pleased to report that things have been going really well since July. More and more refugees are also exchanging vouchers for cash on behalf of friends. Around 50 supportive individuals regularly ensure that there is enough money available. A team of 15 people is responsible for running the program. Plemper announced that another information campaign is planned for September to raise awareness of the initiative.
A similar exchange program has also been set up in Mössingen (Tübingen district): every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in the Catholic community center. The team is still looking for volunteers.
Fewer refugees taken in by the district of Tübingen
Since February, the Tübingen District Office has issued 130 payment cards (as of mid-July 2025) to eligible recipients, according to information provided to tuenews INTERNATIONAL. A total of around 400 adult recipients of asylum seeker benefits are to be provided with these cards by the end of the year. According to the district administration, the district of Tübingen took in 19 new refugees in the first half of 2025. In the same period in 2024, the figure was 106.
By switching the payment of state benefits to payment cards, the federal government hopes, among other things, to reduce incentives for irregular migration (Federal Government | Payment cards for refugees).
Further information is available at tuenews:
tun25012802
tun25030409
tun25071505