Social welfare reform scheduled for 2027: This is what is planned for you
The Ministry of Social Affairs has completed its draft for the social welfare reform. Social Minister Korinna Schumann confirmed this and is currently seeking a majority in support of it. The draft is not yet public and is currently being coordinated with coalition partners ÖVP and NEOS. It will only be sent for review once an agreement has been reached there. It is scheduled to come into effect on January 1, 2027.
Uniform rules are planned instead of nine different state regulations, with a greater emphasis on benefits in kind rather than cash, an integration phase, a basic child security benefit, and the processing of claims for employable persons through the Public Employment Service (AMS) instead of the states.
For you, the current eligibility rules, which the draft does not yet repeal, are particularly important. Third-country nationals are generally only entitled to social welfare if they have already lived legally in Austria for more than five years. Those granted asylum have a claim from the moment their protection status is recognized. Asylum seekers and displaced persons, such as people from Ukraine, are not entitled to social welfare. They receive basic care, which is significantly lower. EU citizens have full entitlement if they work here or have lived here legally for more than five years.
Regarding the amount: In 2025, the maximum rate for single persons and single parents was 1,209 euros, and for couples around 1,693 euros, paid out twelve times a year. The states set the child supplements themselves, ranging from 232.13 euros in Vorarlberg to 326.44 euros in Vienna. 73 percent of those eligible are "top-up" recipients who also have their own income.
The draft is controversial. The Vienna ÖVP and several federal states reject parts of it, and the FPÖ criticizes the project in principle. An agreement is still pending.
Nothing will change for you right now. Your current benefits and deadlines remain unchanged. Check whether you already meet the five-year requirement and, if you have questions about your eligibility, seek advice from a social counseling center or the responsible district administration office.