Hamburg asylum seekers continue to wait months for benefits despite the online portal

Even after the introduction of a web portal for applying for benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, applicants in Hamburg still have to wait months for a decision. In mid-September, the average processing time for new applications from asylum seekers who are not accommodated in the arrival center was 98 working days, according to the Senate's response to a written question from Left MP Carola Ensslen.

This means that the processing period has been extended by more than a quarter since the portal was introduced in February. “The red-green Senate has no plan on how to address the suffering of the people who have to wait almost five months for benefits,” Ensslen told the German Press Agency.

Many urgent applications to the social court

In its response, the Senate pointed out that the average processing time for newer applications received since March was 72 working days. In addition, for “persons for whom ensuring the necessary needs cannot be postponed, (...) there are still established procedural channels that ensure accelerated processing”.

“I find it cynical to consider it a success that the authority “only” needs 72 days for newer applications,” said the Left’s refugee policy spokeswoman. “The emergency situation is also affecting the social court and is leading to overload there.”

Since January, the number of urgent proceedings pending there has increased by 40 percent. According to the Senate, there were 114 in June. In addition, the number of emergency consultation appointments fell from 180 in December last year to just 90 appointments per week. «The online portal and AI do not solve the problems - more appointments, better communication and an adequate administrative structure are needed. “We can’t just let refugees suffer,” said Ensslen.