The claim
Images and videos suggest that asylum seekers are systematically pouring out water bottles in order to obtain cash with the deposit bottles. Misuse of social benefits is assumed.
Our conclusion
The situation is more complex than presented. The recordings cannot provide general evidence of the misuse of social benefits by asylum seekers.
A photo is causing a stir on social networks: "They're standing in the Lidl parking lot and pouring out bottles of water (500ml). They've probably redeemed their food stamps with it and are now getting the deposit... Sooo brazen" (sic!)
The picture, combined with The claim that this is used to illegally obtain cash using deposit bottles by asylum seekers raises questions about the handling of social benefits.
This scenario reflects a deeper debate surrounding the use of grocery vouchers and planned payment cards. The aim of these measures is to curb the abuse of social benefits and ensure that help reaches where it is needed. But the reality is often more complicated, as the current example from Eisenach and a comparable incident from 2018 show.
What is it about?
The photo was taken at the Lidl branch in Eisenach . It shows a man with two shopping carts full of water bottles next to a car with the trunk open. Whether he is here emptying the water bottles cannot be confirmed with certainty. The image is accompanied by the assumption that the water was purchased using food vouchers in order to receive deposit money from the empties. A comment on that post on X/Twitter also claims that the man is Ukrainian.
This representation is linked to the criticism of the planned introduction of payment cards for asylum seekers and suggests a systematic abuse of this assistance.
A similar case from Bernburg from 2018, in which an asylum seeker spilled mineral water, is also used to support this theory.
Our assessment of the abuse allegation
On closer inspection, the accusation of systematic abuse by asylum seekers turns out to be exaggerated. The examples presented represent individual cases that are not representative of the behavior of all asylum seekers. In addition, the payment card system in Eisenach will not be introduced until March 1, 2024 , which the presentation shows in a misleading context.
In another posting that shows the man in the Lidl parking lot in Eisenach, the license plate has not been made unrecognizable. Here you can see that it is a German license plate with the abbreviation “SLZ” (Bad Salzungen).
Facts about the deposit bottle system
The cases from Eisenach and Bernburg show the difficulties in dealing with social benefits.
While in Bernburg an asylum seeker who was obliged to leave the country tried to get cash by pouring out water bottles, the situation in Eisenach is less clear. The use of food vouchers or payment cards aims to provide those in need with access to basic supplies without encouraging abuse. The authorities' response to such incidents, such as the adjustment of voucher systems, shows a willingness to prevent abuse without compromising support for those in need.
Questions and answers on the topic of “deposit bottles and social benefits”:
Question 1: Is pouring out water bottles to receive deposit money a common phenomenon among asylum seekers?
Answer 1: No, these are individual cases that do not reflect the behavior of the majority. Unfortunately, this “deposit bottle trick” is also practiced by homeless people and Hartz4/citizen benefit recipients to obtain cash for alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
Question 2: Was the payment card system already introduced at the time of the recording?
Answer 2: No, the criticized actions took place before the system was introduced.
Question 3: What is the aim of food vouchers and payment cards for asylum seekers?
Answer 3: They are intended to provide access to basic needs while preventing abuse.
Question 4: How do authorities react to cases of abuse?
Answer 4: Through adjustments to the system, such as issuing special vouchers that only allow the purchase of normal household quantities.
Question 5: Do the cases presented reflect general practice in dealing with social benefits?
Answer 5: No, they do not represent the entirety and should not lead to generalization.
Conclusion on the subject of deposit bottle abuse
The discussion about the alleged abuse of social benefits by pouring out water bottles is complex. While isolated cases exist, it is misleading to use these as evidence of a systematic problem. Authorities strive to prevent abuse without restricting support to those in need. The challenge is finding a balance between helping and preventing abuse.
This article was made possible by the combined strength of our community power in the Mimikama forum! A big thank you to all Mimikamas involved. You can find the relevant thread here: Water bottles are distributed for deposit money
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )