75,000 Syrians and Afghans are receiving cash assistance.
A Syrian family living in Vienna has sparked widespread political controversy after it was revealed that they receive up to 9,000 euros per month in social assistance, including 6,000 euros as a minimum living allowance, with the remainder coming from family benefits and other government support, according to a report published by the "Krone" newspaper.
Although this case is considered an exception, official figures indicate that around 266,000 people received social assistance in Austria during 2024, with Wien leading these statistics at 72% of the total beneficiaries, followed by Steiermark at 8%.
It is noteworthy that a large percentage of the beneficiaries of this aid are foreigners, with the percentage in Vienna being around 67%, in Vorarlberg 61%, in Tyrol 62%, and in Styria 51%. Citizens from Syria lead with 58,750 beneficiaries, followed by Afghanistan with 15,900, and then Russia with 9,350.
In this context, Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm announced a new mandatory integration program that includes penalties for those who do not comply with the conditions. She said: "Anyone who wants to stay in Austria must be part of the community, learn the German language, respect the laws and values, and show a willingness to work."
The minister added that the sanctions could include reducing social assistance or imposing administrative fines. She emphasized that the goal is to encourage people to integrate effectively, even if it requires imposing penalties.
I emphasized that unemployment represents a "poison for integration" because it deprives individuals of the opportunity to practice the German language and engage socially, and it poses a significant burden on the social welfare system in the country.