Who are the exceptions to the reductions in social assistance? Vienna settles the answer.
Vienna announced a reform of social assistance starting in 2026, aimed at increasing sustainability and accuracy of distribution, with a reduction in housing support for large families and residents of shared apartments, and the exclusion of those receiving subsidiary protection, with specific exceptions.
One of the most significant changes involves modifying the housing component within social assistance, whereby the amounts allocated for housing are deducted from the entitlements of both adults and children. This leads to a noticeable decrease in the value of housing assistance, especially for families with many children, while the city sees this adjustment as necessary to control expenses and distribute support more accurately.
The reform includes a new step that requires children from the age of three, within beneficiary families, to enroll in kindergartens, aiming to help parents enter the labor market and provide children with better educational and linguistic opportunities. This step will be implemented gradually due to the need to increase the capacity of educational institutions.
The treatment of residents in shared apartments as independent individuals will stop, and they will be counted as one family, which will lead to a decrease in the amount of assistance per person. The city estimates that this change will save tens of millions of euros annually as part of a broader plan to reduce costs.
Despite these extensive amendments, Vienna confirmed that several categories will remain completely exempt from reductions, namely: • Singles: Their entitlements remain unchanged. • Single mothers and fathers: No reduction in their benefits. • Small families treated as a single entity: They continue to receive the full allocated amounts. • Persons with disabilities: No change in their basic support. • Seniors: Their entitlements remain as they are without any reduction. • Child support: Continues at 326 euros per month without adjustment.
In contrast, the city clearly stated that there are no exceptions for those granted subsidiary protection: • They are completely excluded from social assistance. • They are automatically transferred to the basic care system only. • Age, disability, or health status do not matter... there are no exceptions at all.
Vienna expects the reforms to achieve annual savings of up to 115 million euros, with a study on transferring the management of the system in the future to the Employment Office to enhance professional integration opportunities.