Overview
- The European Court of Justice decided on Thursday that Germany may not cut supplies of clothing, household items or money for daily needs to asylum seekers in certain Dublin transfer cases because those items form part of an EU‑guaranteed adequate standard of living.
- The ruling says entitlement to these material supports does not end with a deportation order but only when the physical transfer to the responsible member state has been executed.
- The case began with an Afghan applicant in Landkreis Schweinfurt whose benefits were reduced in 2021–22 and was referred to Luxembourg by the Bundessozialgericht after disputes in regional social courts.
- German ministries have opened legal and administrative reviews and several Landessozialgerichte were already suspending or finding unlawful the 2024 tightening of the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz that allows broad cuts or withdrawal of benefits.
- The decision may trigger back‑payment claims for affected people, add costs for municipalities, and must now be reconciled with the EU's GEAS reform that takes effect on June 12 and allows some restrictions only if a minimum standard consistent with Union law is maintained.