Greens: 90,359 Viennese hit by minimum income cuts
Cuts to Vienna's minimum income support (Mindestsicherung) affect 90,359 people, the Vienna Greens said on Thursday, 8 October. The opposition party says the figure comes from a written answer by Vienna's social affairs councillor Peter Hacker (SPÖ) sent in mid-September. According to the Greens, that is 71 percent of everyone receiving minimum income support in the city.
The Greens say almost 33,000 children are among those affected, along with around 8,000 pensioners, people with disabilities and chronically ill people. About 8,500 single parents are hit by the reduced family supplement. The changes cover the child rate, the family supplement, rent support and special payments for long-term recipients. The Greens calculate that a household of four currently loses around €3,300 a year. Since the cuts were introduced, the number of recipients has fallen by about 6,000.
The city disputes this picture. Hacker's office says Vienna still offers a level of social benefits that is unmatched in quality and quantity, and the SPÖ's social spokesperson says negotiations are still ongoing and accused the Greens of painting scenarios. The city's 2026 budget plans to reduce spending on minimum income support by around €200 million, partly by recalculating housing costs, removing the parents' family supplement and reducing special payments. The Greens want the cuts reversed and propose taxes on empty flats and on rezoning instead.
If you receive minimum income support in Vienna, check your latest decision notice (Bescheid) to see which amounts have changed, especially the family supplement and rent support. If you think your calculation is wrong, you can appeal within the deadline stated on the notice. Social advice centres and the city's MA 40 social services office can explain your notice.