Switzerland is changing the conditions for financial support for Ukrainian refugees
In the sixth month of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Swiss authorities changed the way they calculate cash benefits for Ukrainian refugees.
In this regard, the government has stressed that the relevant authorities of the host country will also take into account their financial situation when examining applications for assistance from Ukrainians with S status, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Since March of this year, more than 60,000 Ukrainian citizens have been granted temporary protection status S in Switzerland. The status allows Ukrainian refugees to find work and receive social assistance in the country.
The largest part of the sum is intended for medical services and covers other cantonal expenses for the maintenance of a refugee. In addition, the amount of the allowance was set at CHF 1,500 per month.
Currently, each application from Ukrainian refugees is assessed individually, taking into account the individual’s or family’s income and assets. This means that when a citizen of Ukraine withdraws money from bank cards from financial institutions of the country of origin or buys assets, this affects the assessment of the level of income and is a determining factor when considering an application for material assistance.
However, these rules also apply to temporary migrants from other countries to Switzerland.
“We have noticed that society is criticizing the different attitudes towards those who are temporarily protected and those in need of protection. That is why we are discussing various ways in which we can now check the assets of those seeking help,” The general secretary of the cantonal conference of social directors, Gaby Schollesi, points this out.
She added that the only exception is the vehicle needed to return from the evacuation.
In her opinion, a situation that forces Ukrainians to sell passenger cars will not have good consequences. In addition, the income earned in the country of temporary residence must be calculated.
As Scholles explains, the significantly increased hurdles to receiving payments ensure that the principle of legal equality for all refugees who are materially supported by the state is observed.
In addition, Swiss authorities announced in April that about 22,965 Ukrainians who fled their country were granted S protection status, with 22,890 registered for protection status in April and 114 of the applications submitted by Ukrainians for incompleteness of the required criteria were rejected.
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