Hamburg asylum seekers wait 98 days for benefits decisions

Asylum seekers in Hamburg face an average wait of 98 working days for a decision on their legally entitled benefits, according to a Senate response to a parliamentary inquiry. The processing time has increased by over a quarter since an online application portal was introduced in February. The Left party criticized the delay, with spokesperson Carola Ensslen calling it cynical that newer applications since March average 72 days. Emergency procedures at the Social Court have surged 40 percent since January, reaching 114 cases in June, while weekly emergency consultation slots dropped from 180 to 90. The Senate maintains that established fast-track procedures exist for urgent cases. Ensslen argued that the online portal and AI do not solve the problem, demanding more appointments, better communication, and adequate administrative resources to prevent refugees from being left destitute.