Federal and States Discuss Social Assistance Reform

The changes under the name "Social Assistance NEW" were already roughly outlined in the government program, but the plans have not been significantly developed further. The session on Thursday will also include a discussion of constitutional aspects. However, disagreements within the three-party coalition on this issue have already emerged ahead of the meeting.

"Social Assistance NEW": Discrepancies Over "Integration Phase"

In a legal opinion commissioned by Schumann from the Constitutional Service of the Federal Chancellery, it is doubted, according to "Presse", whether it is constitutionally permissible to grant lower benefits to those entitled to protection across the board. For reasons of equal treatment, the planned "integration phase" would therefore have to apply not only to immigrants but to all applicants (including Austrian citizens) - as the Ministry of Social Affairs argued two weeks ago, causing irritation among coalition partners ÖVP and NEOS.

The Minister responsible for integration, Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP), referred to the so-called EU status regulation, which will apply from mid-2026. According to this, it is legally quite possible to link social benefits to integration measures. "There will certainly be no integration phase for Austrians. That is and remains absurd," Plakolm reiterated in a statement sent to the APA on Wednesday evening.

On Thursday, the NEOS also reiterated their stance on this matter: "For us NEOS, it is and remains clear that Austrians do not have to complete an integration phase in the new social assistance," explained NEOS social spokesperson Johannes Gasser in a statement to the APA. "Rather, we ensure that the quickest possible integration of immigrants into the labor market is prioritized." In the design, all constitutional possibilities must be considered and utilized.

Criticism from the Greens on Coalition Dispute Over "Social Assistance NEW"

The internal coalition discrepancies drew criticism from the Greens. "The government's chaos and confusion surrounding the social assistance reform continues merrily," said Green social spokesperson Markus Koza in a statement on Thursday. Instead of constantly producing new announcements and half-baked ideas, the government should seriously work on a reform with social organizations, he demanded. Social organizations also repeated their demand for involvement in the reform process. The Volkshilfe warned against a race to the bottom and called for "poverty-proof minimum rates." The Poverty Conference also warned against "destroying the last social safety net."

"Social Assistance NEW": Also "Graduation" of Social Assistance for Children on the Table

The meeting on Thursday is also likely to address the issue of a targeted "staggering" of social assistance contributions based on the number of children (less per capita benefit from a certain number of children). A corresponding nationwide regulation was overturned by the Constitutional Court in December 2019, as it was deemed a disadvantage for families with multiple children and thus unconstitutional.

Some federal states have already introduced or are planning their own, sometimes stricter rules. From Styria, Social Councillor Hannes Amesbauer (FPÖ) said in a statement on Thursday that his state is not fundamentally opposed to a nationwide standardization of social assistance. "But it must be made clear from the outset that the Styrian model (planned from spring 2026, note) must be the benchmark and under no circumstances can there be an adjustment to Viennese conditions." He rejected "absurdities" such as an "integration phase" for Austrians as well.

For Styrian Social Councillor Christian Dörfel (ÖVP), Upper Austria, where there is already a degressive model for social assistance for children, could also be a model for the federal government. "Every child is worth the same, but it doesn't cost the same," he said in the Ö1 "Midday Journal". From Tyrol, where a staggering is to be introduced from next year, red Social Councillor Eva Pawlata said, of course, every child is worth the same, "that is quite clear." "But one must not forget that when a family has several children, the funds go into one pot," she said on Ö1 radio. It is important that regional differences continue to be taken into account in the future, for example in housing costs.

"New Social Assistance": German Acquisition for Immigrants in Focus

In addition to the standardization of the currently different regulations depending on the federal state, stricter rules are also planned, primarily targeting immigrants. A waiting period with limited benefits (the aforementioned "integration phase") is planned. Instead of the full amount of social assistance, there will only be an "integration allowance" during this phase. Benefits are to be linked to German acquisition, job placement, and value transmission. The government is also considering sanction options - the design is still open.

While the ÖVP is strongly focused on more restrictive regulations, the SPÖ always emphasizes the need to remove children from the social assistance logic - without further elaboration so far. There is talk of a "future security for children". In addition to monetary benefits, the focus should primarily be on in-kind benefits.

A press statement is not planned around the meeting according to the current status. The duration of the initial meeting is reportedly set at around one hour, and no significant results are expected from this round.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.