Social security agencies no longer turn a blind eye to Ukrainians

Now the special treatment of the refugees from Ukraine is over. Last week, the government of Aargau announced that people with protection status S will in future have to sell their car if they want to receive social assistance benefits – just as it generally applies to all other social assistance recipients. The previously applicable special scheme will be lifted on 10 March.

Argau is not alone. Unlike the Aargau government, most other cantons have not yet communicated this proactively. But most car owners who seek protection from Ukraine quickly run into a problem.

The special scheme expires after one year

The Swiss Social Welfare Conference (skos) already advised the cantons and municipalities last November to adjust the rules for Ukrainian refugees. Originally, the authorities had decided on the car exception because they hoped that the refugees would be able to return to their home country quickly and that the car would be put to good use. Many people seeking protection cling to their car because it is one of the few things they have left.

But now most of the refugees have been in Switzerland for almost a year. From the point of view skos the special scheme can no longer be justified. It is about equality with other beneficiaries. The conference also recommends, after twelve months with the credit of wealth to become stricter. The refugees must first use up their assets before they can receive social assistance. As with cars, there are exceptions.

Selling doesn’t always pay off

“We assume that the majority of cantons will accept the recommendation of the skos will perform,” says Skos director Markus Kaufmann on the car ownership rule. Several cantons contacted confirm this. However, the implementation is not so simple. “The cars must first be declared before they can be put on the market.” It costs – according to St Gallic Conference of well-being about 14 percent of the vehicle value. In addition, not every car can be sold.

One has to wonder whether the recycling is worth the effort in relation to the effort involved. “That shouldn’t always be the case,” emphasizes Kaufmann. Noisy skos Alternatively, the OCMW can ask for the number plate to be deposited, provided the canton has the legal basis for this.

No exception for expensive cars

Some cantons and municipalities are already taking a look. “In the past, some cantons have in any case not accepted luxury cars from Ukrainian welfare recipients,” says Kaufmann. For example, the canton of Bern relatively quickly decided to sell expensive cars. According to the canton, the same rules apply as for other welfare recipients.

A year after the outbreak of war, the vast majority of refugees from Ukraine are still dependent on social assistance. For example, last August in the canton of Bern it was 91 percent and now it is still 87 percent. In other cantons, too, the proportion of people entitled to social assistance has hardly changed.

Source:Blick