Many refugees from Ukraine have found a large transfer from the Jobcenter on their account these days. But beware: The money is not completely there to spend, but must be partially forwarded to the district office. This is communicated by the authority. It is also written in the notice that the refugees received.
The background is rather complicated. Since Ukrainian refugees have not been supported under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act since June 1, but receive money from the Job Center under the Social Code II, their transfer always includes a share for the costs of accommodation—in other words, the rent, so to speak. If they are in temporary accommodation, they must at the same time pay user fees to the district office—in other words, transfer the money in this amount to the district office. The easiest way would be for the job center to transfer this money directly to the district office. “But that is not possible for legal reasons,” says Thomas Steimle, head of the department of order and building law at the district office. This is only possible when the refugees have signed a declaration of assignment at the job center—then the authority can forward the money directly to the district office. The district office and the job center are currently preparing a corresponding solution, Steimle continues.
The regulation affects 1700 people who have currently sought protection from the war in Ukraine in the district of Tübingen. Theoretically, they have all been transferred money for accommodation—often several thousand euros, because the user fees amount to 800 euros per month for a married couple, for example. What is important now is that they forward the money. If they spend it, they have to pay it back later—sometimes even years later.
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Das Jobcenter in Tübingen. Foto: tünews INTERNATIONAL / Mostafa Elyasian.
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