Green Party Criticizes Additional Income Regulation for Unemployment

The Greens are calling for "more exceptions to the unemployment additional earnings ban." From 2026, unemployed individuals will only be able to supplement unemployment benefits or emergency assistance with additional earnings in exceptional cases. "People in culture, science, or journalism live from project work and temporary engagements," said the labor and Green social spokesperson, Markus Koza, in a statement.

Greens for More Exceptions in Unemployment Additional Earnings

In between, there are "repeated phases of unemployment for these groups, during which additional earnings are necessary to remain in the profession and secure their livelihood." Koza criticizes that with the new regulation, the ÖVP/SPÖ/NEOS government "takes away these people's opportunities for additional earnings and thus also their professional prospects."

The Green social spokesperson has submitted a parliamentary inquiry to Social Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) to clarify how the new rules should be applied in practice. The inquiry has now been answered by the minister. Exempt from the new regulation are those individuals who have already engaged in this secondary activity for at least 26 weeks before unemployment. They may then continue to perform this side job on a minor scale while receiving unemployment benefits or emergency assistance. However, in the fields of culture, science, or journalism, many secondary activities are characterized by longer interruptions.

Koza: New Regulation "Ill-conceived"

"The prohibition of additional income for employees forces many into pseudo-self-employment, because the AMS can hardly verify whether a self-employed activity was carried out for less than 26 weeks," said Koza. This shows "how ill-conceived this prohibition" is. The Green Party's social spokesperson sees another group of people being overlooked. For unemployed people who have fallen into private bankruptcy, additional income is "often the only way to manage."

In 2025, unemployed individuals can still earn up to 551.10 euros monthly without losing their entitlements. From next year, four groups of people are exempt from the restriction on additional income. All others must give up their side jobs by January 31, 2026, to avoid losing their entitlements retroactively. Long-term unemployed individuals over 50 years old or persons with a disability of at least 50 percent are exempt from the new regulation. In general, long-term unemployed individuals are allowed to earn additional income once for 26 weeks within the marginal employment limit.

Greens Submit Amendment Proposal

Those who have received sickness, rehabilitation, or retraining benefits for at least 52 weeks due to illness are allowed to work marginally once for up to 26 weeks alongside unemployment benefits starting in 2026.

The Greens want to submit an amendment proposal to the National Council today regarding additional income for the unemployed. The exemption regulations should be changed so that no one is forced to "choose between an effective professional ban and the loss of their social security," according to the Greens.

(APA/Red)

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