Vienna reduces financial support and leaves people with severe disabilities facing a loss of up to 3,000 euros.
Vienna will reduce the minimum income support, leaving people with severe disabilities facing a loss of up to 3,000 euros annually, despite rising living and energy costs. The proposed amendment targets people with intellectual disabilities and mental illnesses who rely entirely on social assistance.
The reductions were proposed by a specific member of parliament and are scheduled to be approved in the local parliament tomorrow, without the participation of advocacy groups for the rights of persons with disabilities. Human rights advocates warn that this violates the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as affected communities have been excluded from any consultations.
Private payments, essential for urgent expenses such as repairs or medical care, will be cut in half. For many beneficiaries, these changes mean losing thousands of euros annually, increasing their financial vulnerability and making their lives more precarious.
Changes to the minimum income calculation also reduce daily allowances. With the housing allowance increasing from 13.5% to 25%, beneficiaries will receive less money to cover basic expenses such as food, energy, clothing, and social participation. Only 75% of the basic allowance for daily needs will remain, compared to 86.5% previously.
An example of a 67-year-old woman illustrates the impact: her rent allowance will decrease from 317 euros to 178 euros, and she will lose about 140 euros from her monthly living allowance, in addition to a one-time payment of over 1,200 euros, bringing her total annual loss to 2,889 euros. The organization VertretungsNetz warns that Vienna is abandoning solidarity and pushing the most vulnerable citizens further to the margins.