Hamburg, January 9 – Asylum seekers in Hamburg are experiencing substantial delays in receiving their entitled benefit payments. In some cases, it takes more than a quarter of a year for funds to be transferred, as revealed in the Senate’s response to an inquiry by the Left Party faction.
Essential Payments Delayed for Months
These asylum seeker benefits are crucial for survival, as individuals residing in municipal accommodations must provide for themselves and only gain health insurance coverage once their benefits are approved. According to the Senate’s response, refugees face an average wait of 77.5 working days for their applications to be processed, which translates to almost four months.
Left Party Criticizes ‘Glaring Failure’
Carola Ensslen, the Left Party’s spokesperson for refugee policy, questioned, “What are these people supposed to live on in the meantime?” She described the situation as a “glaring failure,” asserting that it endangers those affected.
Staff Shortages Contribute to Delays
One contributing factor to the lengthy processing times appears to be staff shortages within the Interior Authority’s department responsible for asylum seeker benefits. Out of 74 positions, only 65 are currently filled, the Senate reported. Ten positions are presently advertised, and the average sickness rate in the department is approximately 12 percent.
New Asylum Center and Increased Refugee Influx
Hamburg is set to open a new asylum center at the airport in 2026, which will be utilized by the European asylum system to house refugees with low prospects of obtaining residency. Concurrently, Hamburg is experiencing a significant increase in refugees from Ukraine, with nearly 894 protection seekers arriving in October alone, as official figures indicate.
This issue was broadcast on NDR 90.3 | NDR 90.3 Aktuell | 09.01.2026 | 16:00 Uhr.
