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The ADA is currently paid to 151-000 people in France (photo illustration). CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP

On Monday, the French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII) postponed to 5 November the entry into force of a reform of the bank card of asylum seekers. This has sparked controversy by social actors who see it as a means to " rot the life " of newcomers.

The body, under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior, announced on Monday to AFP have shifted to November 5, two months, the implementation of the reform, and gave " an additional delay to operators [ ...] so that they can equip all the structures in payment terminal ".

About the ADA Card: pic.twitter.com/7CjVSgJOLU

French Office of Immigration and Integration (@OFII_France) August 12, 2019

Announced in the summer, on July 23rd, by an email to the managers of immigrant reception centers, the modification was to be a simple technical manipulation: the card, on which is paid each month the Allowance for Asylum (ADA) was scheduled to pass on 5 September - the originally scheduled date - from a means of withdrawal of cash to a payment card only, without the amount of the ADA changing .

Read also: Seven questions about refugees: who they are, where they come from, where they are going

The community and the institutions concerned, they, immediately perceived a political maneuver to discourage the use of this aid currently paid to 151,000 people, about 42 million euros monthly, and a measure that goes to against the needs of asylum seekers.

In late July, the associations, who regret the lack of consultation, denounced the new operation with 25 monthly payments allowed (and 50 cents per payment billed beyond) may deprive users of cash for " the acts of everyday life Such as buying a baguette in a bakery or access to laundromats.

On the side of the OFII, we advance pragmatic reasons: " Asylum seekers are in difficulty when they have less than 10 euros left on the card, because they can not withdraw. But for some, 9 euros is not negligible, it can make 5% of the allowance, "said Didier Leschi, the director of the organization.

200 euros for a single person

Allocated only during the procedure, the only help received by asylum seekers, can go from about 7 euros per day, or about 200 euros per month for a single person, to more than 400 euros for a couple with children.

To this difficulty, continues Didier Leschi, we must add the fact that the " manipulation of cash can generate racket ".

Since the announcement of the reform of the bank card, the pressure for the OFII to backtrack has not slackened.

(with AFP)