Switzerland Changes Conditions for Financial Assistance Allocated to Ukrainian Refugees
In this regard, the government has emphasized that when considering applications for an allowance from Ukrainians with S status, the host country’s competent authorities will take into account their financial situation too, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.
Since March of this year, more than 60,000 citizens of Ukraine have received temporary protection status S in Switzerland. The status enables Ukrainian refugees to find a job and receive social assistance in the country.
The largest part of the sum is intended for medical services and covers other canton expenses for a refugee’s maintenance. In addition, the amount of allowance money was fixed at 1500 Swiss francs per month.
Currently, each application from Ukrainian refugees will be considered individually, taking into account the income and wealth of the person or family. This means that if a citizen of Ukraine withdraws money from bank cards of financial institutions of the country of origin or buys assets, this affects the assessment of the income level and is a decisive factor when considering a request for material assistance.
However, these rules also apply to temporary migrants from other countries to Switzerland.
“We noticed that society criticizes the different attitudes towards the temporarily protected and those in need of protection. Therefore, we are discussing different options for how we will now check the assets of those asking for help,” Secretary General of the Cantonal Conference of Social Directors, Gaby Schollesi, pointed out in this regard.
She also added that the only exception is the vehicle needed to return from the evacuation.
According to her, a situation forcing Ukrainians to sell personal vehicles will not have good consequences. In addition, the income received in the country of temporary stay should also be calculated.
As Scholles explains, the barriers that increase significantly for receiving payments will ensure the respect of the principle of legal equality for all refugees who receive material support from the state.
Moreover, in April, Swiss authorities revealed that about 22,965 Ukrainians who fled their country received S protection status, with 22,890 registered for protection status in April and 114 of the applications submitted by Ukrainians were rejected due to incompleteness of the necessary criteria.
