Budget: Headwinds Face Burdens

The Catholic Family Association was outraged by the suspension of the valorization of family benefits, and the SPÖ-affiliated Pensioners' Association (PVÖ) criticized the E-Card fee for pensioners. Meanwhile, the Poverty Conference warned of the drastic impact that the sum of the savings would have on people with little money.

For the lower third of incomes and especially the poorest tenth of the population, the problem is not the individual measures, but their accumulation, warned Martin Schenk of the Poverty Conference. The climate bonus is being eliminated, inflation is not being compensated for in family benefits, the electricity price brake is expiring, and health insurance is being increased, he cited as examples. In addition, there could be possible cuts in services for the needy through the material expenses of the ministries. "For people who have to turn every cent over four times, these are drastic and threatening amounts."

Petition on Family Benefits with Over 7,000 Signatures

The Family Association, according to Kathpress, demanded an "end to austerity measures at the expense of children and parents" on Wednesday, handing over more than 7,000 signatures of a petition against the announced non-valorization of family benefits to National Council President Walter Rosenkranz (FPÖ), which were collected in just four days. Families are already affected by cuts in the climate bonus or the higher E-Card fee. "Now suspending the valorization of family benefits as well overburdens families," said Family Association President Peter Mender.

The Federal Youth Representation (BJV) also criticized the suspension of the valorization of family benefits. This increases the risk that even more children will grow up in poverty. The BJV also has issues with the climate policy of the Black-Red-Pink coalition. In particular, the announced price increases in public transport are going in the wrong direction; climate-friendly mobility must be affordable for young people, especially in rural areas.

Senior Citizens' Association Demands "Stop to Burdens"

PVÖ interim president Helmut Bieler expressed outrage that pensioners now also have to pay a service fee of 25 euros for the E-Card. In a first step, it was at least achieved that minimum pensioners and chronically ill people with prescription fee exemptions are excluded. However, the demand remains that in the future all pensioners should be exempt from the fee. This fee is added to a list of new financial burdens that would particularly affect the elderly - such as higher health insurance contributions, the end of free medical transport, higher fees for passports, or the end of the climate bonus and electricity price brake. "It must not be that the older generation has to serve as a 'cash cow' for budget consolidation," said Bieler, who instead called for contributions from banks, energy companies, speculators, and online giants.

Ingrid Korosec, president of the ÖVP Senior Citizens' Association, also called for a "stop to burdens for pensioners." While everyone must contribute to budget consolidation, this must be "social, fair, and in solidarity," said Korosec, who at the same time highlighted cushioning measures such as freezing prescription fees and measures to make working in retirement more attractive.

(APA/Red)

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