Social Assistance in Styria: Maximum Rate 1,168 Euros, Your Transition Period Ends in 2026
Since February 1, 2026, Styria has had the strictest social assistance law in Austria. The maximum rate for a single person has since been 1,168.40 euros per month, down from the previous 1,229.89 euros. The state justifies the cut by stating that work should be more rewarding than social benefits. According to the state government, expenditures are now measurably decreasing; State Councilor for Social Affairs Hannes Amesbauer cited a saving of around 800,000 euros per month and about 1,500 fewer recipients in an interview with ORF. Other reports mention 840 fewer recipients and savings of around 1.49 million euros. An independently audited balance sheet is not yet available.
Those primarily affected are households with children and people without Austrian citizenship. In December 2025, around 14,600 people in Styria were receiving social assistance, of whom approximately 51.5 percent did not hold an Austrian passport and around 28 percent were recognized refugees. Child supplements are staggered on a degressive scale: for one child, the rate is 25 percent of the maximum amount, 20 percent each for two children, 15 percent each for three, and twelve percent each for five or more children. The housing cost allowance was reduced from 20 to 15 percent.
Crucial is the obligation to seek employment. Anyone receiving social assistance must actively strive for work and integration, which includes a willingness to learn German. Sanctions are significantly harsher than before: even for a first violation, a 50 percent reduction is possible; from the third violation, it is 75 percent, and in cases of repeated refusal, up to 100 percent. Previously, the limit was 60 percent. For administrative offenses, a minimum fine of 200 euros also applies.
What you should check now: If you were already receiving social assistance or had submitted a complete application before February 1, 2026, the old rates still apply to you for the time being. This transitional protection expires at the end of 2026. It also ceases to apply as soon as you submit a new application. Therefore, check before every new application whether your amount will decrease as a result, and obtain written information from the district administration (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) or a social counseling center. Keep records of job applications and course attendance, as these prove your cooperation in the event of sanctions.
At the federal level, a draft for a nationwide uniform social assistance system is now available. In an ORF interview, Amesbauer called it "wishy-washy" and rejects any softening of the Styrian model.