Payment card for refugees: Cloppenburg district starts new system!
Cloppenburg District will introduce the payment card for refugees from 2025 in order to pay out basic services efficiently and digitally.

Payment card for refugees: Cloppenburg district starts new system!
A new regulation is on the agenda in the Cloppenburg district, which is of great importance for many refugees. From now on, the payment card for refugees will be introduced here, like OM Online reported. The payment card provided by secupay AG is a significant step towards digitalizing the payment of social benefits.
The new system stipulates that asylum seekers who are accommodated in the Lower Saxony state reception authority are already provided with payment cards. These cards enable cashless shopping and cash withdrawals. For the first 36 months of their stay in Germany, refugees can have an amount of 50 euros loaded onto their card every month - an amount that is important for living expenses.
Technical details and possible uses
The payment card will be available both as a credit card and in the form of an app. This flexible solution reduces administrative burdens and makes it easier for refugees to manage their funds. Withdrawals of cash are likely to occur predominantly in retail settings, as access to banking institutions for such withdrawals incurs fees. The money for children is credited to the parents' cards, which is a relief for many families.
How secupay As further explained, this project is part of a larger initiative that is being implemented in a total of 14 federal states. The aim is to digitize the overall payment of social benefits and to replace the previous cash and voucher systems. This not only increases efficiency, but also reduces waiting times for service recipients.
Legal framework and social integration
The introduction of the payment card is based on a change in the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, which came into force on May 16, 2024. These regulations have the potential to significantly simplify access to necessary resources for refugees. The social welfare office is responsible for granting these benefits, which is a central point of contact for many of those affected. Information about the respective claims can be found on platforms such as Basic knowledge of asylum can be viewed.
In general, social benefits for refugees in Germany depend heavily on the residence status and length of stay. The payment card helps distribute financial resources transparently and comprehensibly and at the same time creates the basis for faster integration into society.
With the introduction of this technology, those responsible in the Cloppenburg district show that they have a knack for innovative solutions - good news for everyone who depends on this support. Let's stay tuned to see how this new system is received in practice and whether it can soon be successfully implemented in other regions.