Are deductions from the basic social benefits legal in a refugee camp?

Question

Hello,

I have been living in a refugees camp in Munich, Bavaria (for the past 6 years ) as my residency is according to Article 60a (Duldung), the social welfare office has been deducting €51.24 from my essential social benefits (I'm surviving only on €370 monthly) for the past three years when I asked about the reason they claimed it's according to "EVS 2018  §§5-6 RBEG i.V.m § 27a Abs. 4 SGB XII"  break down as follows : 

Division (4) Housing, Energy, Maintenance                          deduction: €36.87

Division (5) household effects, except additional amount     deduction: €14.37 

                                                                                     Total deduction: €51.24 

Now the problem is, The vast majority of camp residents are NOT paying anything (people on jobcentre or working), only three or four residents are receiving this deduction directly from the social office each month (including myself) while the rest are not paying anything (more than 100 resident ), No maintenance was made in the past three years and we don't have cleaning service (we clean ourselves  ), We DO NOT receive any other services ( we don't even have a fully functional kitchen), so I cannot imagine any reason for this deduction?

furthermore, I was told that these expenses were overturned by the administrative court and nobody is still paying in other camps.

My question is: is this deduction legal? is it still valid? and what should I do given the above mentioned facts? 

Best Wishes....

Comments

Dear @Shareef, welcome back to our Wefugees community and thanks for reaching out to us again. I'm going to link our dear experts @mbeon-Ruth and @mbeon-Éanna here. Maybe they can have a **** at your question and help you with an answer. Thank you and kind regards, Julia

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Hi Éanna, Thank you for your answer, please let me elaborate before you close the thread : 1- I am NOT working, But , other GUs residents on jobcenter (with residency cards) or working full time are NOT paying any expenses ( almost 80% of GUs residents are not paying anything ), please note that I'm positive about that and it's confirmed by other residents. 2- The place I live in is NOT singles only, it's Families and singles together (men, women, and kids are all combined together without separation ). 3- I have checked my recent Decision from Sozialamt ,and here i will copy and past under "Bescheid" : "Aufgrund Ihres Antrages werden für die Zeit vom 01.01.2021 bis auf weiteres Leistungen nach dem Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz (AsylbLG) i.V.m. dem Sozialgesetzbuch 12. Teil (SGB XII) - Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt - entsprechend in Höhe von monatlich 369,76 € auf Dauer des Bedarfs bei unveränderten Verhältnissen bewilligt." please note that this is the latest Decision i have received (in 17.03.2021) , but ,even before that date , i have been encountering the same amount of deduction starting from early 2020 , and in 2019 the deduction was around 30 € versus after 2020 around 51€. 4- in the decision itself ,i found this statement : "Regelbedarf- Abzug Sachleistung nach Unterbringung $ 2 (-) -51,24 € " 5- Also in the same decision I found this note : " Sie sind derzeit in einer staatlichen Gemeinschaftsunterkunft der Regierung von Oberbayern untergebracht. Die notwendigen Bedarfe an Unterkunft, Energie, Heizung und Einrichtungsgegenstände (Teilbetrag) werden an Bewohner einer staatlichen Gemeinschaftsunterkunft als Sachleistung gewährt. Der für Sie maßgebliche Regelsatz ist insoweit um die Beträge, welche als Sachleistung gewährt werden, zu mindern. Sie erhalten in Abhängigkeit von Ihren finanziellen Mitteln einen Geldbetrag. Dieser ist für folgende Bedarfe einzusetzen: e Ernährung (z.B. Nahrungsmittel und Getränke) Bekleidung und Schuhe Gesundheitspflege (z.B. Hausapotheke) Verkehr (z.B. Nutzung Öffentlicher Verkehrsmittel, Taxi, Fahrrad) Nachrichtenübermittlung (z.B. Telefon, Internet, Post) Freizeit, Kultur, Unterhaltung (z.B. Spielwaren, Bücher, Zeitschriften) Beherbergungs- und Gaststättendienstleistungen (z.B. Speisen und Getränke in Cafes) e andere Waren und Dienstleistungen (z.B. Hygieneartikel, Babywindeln, Körperpflegemittel, Friseur) " 6- When I asked my social worker about the reason behind these deductions (Via Email) , she responded letterly (Copy and past ) : " in staatlichen Gemeinschaftsunterkünften werden für Leistungsberechtigte nach § 2 AsylbLG folgende Leistungen als Sachleistung gewährt: Abteilung 4-Wohnen, Energie, Instandhaltung Abteilung 5-Hausrat, ausgenommen Hinzuziehungsbetrag Bei dem Barauszahlungsbetrag sind entsprechende Abzugsbeträge zu berücksichtigen ( auf Grundlage der EVS 2018 sowie §§5-6 RBEG i.V.m § 27a Abs. 4 SGB XII). Abzug Abteilung 4: 36,87 € Abzug Abteilung 5: 14,37 € Insgesamt 51,24€ " Please note that we do not receive any extra services (we don't even receive normal services ) . if you insist, I can copy and past the entire decision for you (and hide my personal details ). As the social office in my GUs was not particularly helpful with this issue I'm asking for your advice again. Can I appeal to the sozialamt decision even if it has been more than three months? or should I take the issue to the Social court directly? and can I retrieve the deductions already taken (for the past three years) without any reason? please let me know if there is anybody who can help with this matter (online or offline due to the current situation ). Best Wishes ... @mbeon-Éanna , @mbeon-Ruth, Julia_Wefugees

Answer 1

Hi @Shareef,

Are you working? The section they refer to in the SGB XII refers to people who are able to cover some of their costs themselves (i.e. by working) and who therefore receive less benefits. If this is the case, then I unfortunately don’t see any way of preventing these deductions, other than checking that they are not deducting too much. Other people who are working should, however, also be having these amounts deducted.

Since 01.09.2019 there was a change in the law of asylum seekers’ benefits regarding single adults. Single adults receive benefits not at the standard level one, but at the lower level 2 (about 10% less). The idea behind this was that they need less money, for example by sharing food expenses with other single people. Many people have been successful in appealing this either first with the Sozialamt, and if they refuse to provide full benefits then to the Social Court (not the administrative court).

Check the letters (Bescheid) from the Sozialamt again and **** if there is anything about you being placed in needs level 2 (Regelbedarfstufe 2). If so, you can appeal the latest Bescheid and can also ask for the earlier Bescheid to be checked (called Überprüfung). There should be social workers in your accommodation who can help with this. If the Sozialamt refuses, you can take the case to the Social Court.

Here’s some more information:

https://***-nds--fluerat-org.translate.goog/42833/aktuelles/asylblg-widerspruch-und-eilantrag-gegen-zu-geringe-leistungen/?_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

 Best,

Éanna

Comments

Hi Éanna,

Thank you for your answer, please let me elaborate before you close the thread :

1- I am NOT working, But , other GUs residents on jobcenter (with residency cards) or working full time are NOT paying any expenses ( almost 80% of GUs residents are not paying anything ), please note that I'm positive about that and it's confirmed by other residents.

2- The place I live in is NOT singles only, it's Families and singles together (men, women, and kids are all combined together without separation ).

3- I have checked my recent Decision from Sozialamt ,and here i will copy and past under "Bescheid" : "Aufgrund Ihres Antrages werden für die Zeit vom 01.01.2021 bis auf weiteres Leistungen
nach dem Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz (AsylbLG) i.V.m. dem Sozialgesetzbuch 12. Teil
(SGB XII) - Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt - entsprechend in Höhe von monatlich 369,76 €
auf Dauer des Bedarfs bei unveränderten Verhältnissen bewilligt."  
please note that this is the latest Decision i have received (in 17.03.2021) , but ,even before that date , i have been encountering the same amount of deduction starting from early 2020 , and in 2019 the deduction was around 30 € versus after 2020 around 51€.

4- in the decision itself ,i found this statement : "Regelbedarf- Abzug Sachleistung nach Unterbringung $ 2 (-)  -51,24 € "

5- Also in the same decision I found this note :
"  Sie sind derzeit in einer staatlichen Gemeinschaftsunterkunft der Regierung von Oberbayern
untergebracht.
Die notwendigen Bedarfe an Unterkunft, Energie, Heizung und Einrichtungsgegenstände
(Teilbetrag) werden an Bewohner einer staatlichen Gemeinschaftsunterkunft als Sachleistung
gewährt.
Der für Sie maßgebliche Regelsatz ist insoweit um die Beträge, welche als Sachleistung gewährt
werden, zu mindern.
Sie erhalten in Abhängigkeit von Ihren finanziellen Mitteln einen Geldbetrag.
Dieser ist für folgende Bedarfe einzusetzen:
e Ernährung (z.B. Nahrungsmittel und Getränke)
Bekleidung und Schuhe
Gesundheitspflege (z.B. Hausapotheke)
Verkehr (z.B. Nutzung Öffentlicher Verkehrsmittel, Taxi, Fahrrad)
Nachrichtenübermittlung (z.B. Telefon, Internet, Post)
Freizeit, Kultur, Unterhaltung (z.B. Spielwaren, Bücher, Zeitschriften)
Beherbergungs- und Gaststättendienstleistungen (z.B. Speisen und Getränke in
Cafes)
e andere Waren und Dienstleistungen (z.B. Hygieneartikel, Babywindeln, Körperpflegemittel,
Friseur) "

6- When I asked  my social worker about the reason behind these deductions (Via Email) , she responded letterly (Copy and past ) :
"  in staatlichen Gemeinschaftsunterkünften  werden für Leistungsberechtigte nach § 2 AsylbLG folgende Leistungen als Sachleistung gewährt:


Abteilung 4-Wohnen, Energie, Instandhaltung

Abteilung 5-Hausrat, ausgenommen Hinzuziehungsbetrag


Bei dem Barauszahlungsbetrag sind entsprechende Abzugsbeträge zu berücksichtigen ( auf Grundlage der EVS 2018 sowie §§5-6 RBEG i.V.m § 27a Abs. 4 SGB XII).


Abzug Abteilung 4: 36,87 €

Abzug Abteilung 5: 14,37 €

Insgesamt 51,24€  "

Please note that we do not receive any extra services (we don't even receive normal services ) . if you insist, I can copy and past the entire decision for you (and hide my personal details ).

As the social office in my GUs was not particularly helpful with this issue I'm asking for your advice again.

Can I appeal to the sozialamt decision even if it has been more than three months? or should I take the issue to the Social court directly? and can I retrieve the deductions already taken (for the past three years) without any reason?

please let me know if there is anybody who can help with this matter (online or offline due to the current situation ).

Best Wishes ...

Answer 2

Hi @Shareef, You’re welcome! Thank you for providing some additional information. From what you have written, your situation is not as a result of the practice I wrote about above (where single individuals receive less benefits). You have been allocated the correct monthly amount. Then due to you being provided with certain things (housing, energy, heating, furniture), some money is deducted from this. The social worker confirmed this. I do not see on what grounds you could appeal the decision, as you are provided with these things. All those living in the accommodation and being provided with the things mentioned should also have these deductions. I do not know why this is not the case. You cannot appeal the latest Bescheid, as the time-limit has passed. You can, however, apply to have the decision re-checked. This is called an Überprüfungsantrag and is to be made with the Sozialamt. You can have the Bescheide checked back to the start of 2021. With the Sozialgericht there is the possibility to lodge a case (Klage) against the Sozialamt. However, you would need to have grounds on which to do this. Although not obliged to have a lawyer for this, it is advisable to seek legal advice before taking this step. The person best placed to assist you with this is the social worker at the accommodation you are in. Let me know, however, if you have further questions.