A system change is imminent for Ukrainian war refugees. From June 1st, the social welfare offices will no longer be responsible for looking after you nationwide, but the employment agencies.
In Berlin, they should get access to social benefits through the job center as quickly as possible, as Social Senator Katja Kipping (left) announced on Tuesday. This is a big step forward for the refugees, said Kipping.
The Asylum Seekers Benefits Act no longer applies to them. Instead, you can claim better benefits under the Social Security Code. “We are doing everything to ensure that there is no drop in benefits,” assured the Senator for Labour, Social Affairs and Integration. “The job centers and the social welfare offices are already coordinating closely.”
The change to the job centers is a negotiation success of the state of Berlin in the discussions with the federal government, especially that of the governing mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD), said Kipping. “We were the first to campaign for this.”
According to the new legal requirements, identification services will be required for refugees from the Ukraine from the age of 14 in the future.
According to the Senate, this also applies to the more than 20,000 people who have already received a residence permit for two years from the State Office for Immigration but have not yet been processed by the identification service.
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There are three different groups in total: Ukrainian refugees who receive a residence permit from the State Office for Immigration (LEA) by the end of May can simply receive social benefits from the job centers from the beginning of June; subsequent identification processing should be possible until the end of October.
On the other hand, Ukrainian refugees who have submitted an online application to the State Office for Immigration but do not have an appointment for the LEA to issue a residence permit by the end of May must first be processed by the identification service. And thirdly, everyone who arrives in Berlin from the end of May must first register at the arrival center in Tegel and have them processed by the identification service when they are distributed to Berlin.
Kipping admitted that there is often still uncertainty when it comes to registration. Those who do not meet the conditions set by the Senate may come to another federal state after registering, the left-wing politician admitted. But you have health insurance and a work permit.
