Minister of Social Affairs: There is no maximum limit for social assistance
Austrian Minister of Social Affairs, Karina Schumann, announced that she rejects the imposition of a general cap on social benefits, but she confirmed that the current system needs reforms that consider justice and better target the needy groups, without creating an atmosphere of hostility among different social groups.
Recently, two Syrian families living in Vienna sparked a lot of controversy after it was revealed that one of them received 4,600 euros per month in aid, while the other – consisting of parents and 11 children – received a total of 9,000 euros. These cases are not isolated, but they highlight the impact of a large number of children on the increase in support amounts, as aid accumulates through family allowances and additional bonuses stipulated by law.
At a time when many working citizens are demanding explanations about these figures, especially in light of the reduction of pensions and public support due to austerity measures, the minister confirmed that those who work should always earn a higher income than those who live on assistance. She described this as a fundamental principle that should not be compromised.
While emphasizing the need to amend the system, the minister rejected the idea of setting assistance at a fixed maximum amount, considering that it would be legally questionable and ignore the actual needs of families. Instead, the government – which includes the ÖVP, SPÖ, and Neos parties – is working on a plan to reform the assistance system to make it fairer and more focused, including the introduction of more in-kind assistance, without detailing this step.
Shuman pointed out that one of her priorities is to unify the standards among the Austrian states, where there is currently a significant disparity in the support system, which she described as a "patchwork regional carpet" that needs to be eliminated in favor of unified standards at the national level. The minister confirmed at the end of her speech that integrating beneficiaries into the labor market remains a central goal, but it takes time, especially for people of immigrant backgrounds, emphasizing the importance of mastering the German language, obtaining vocational training, in addition to providing effective childcare that allows parents to work together.