Digital Assistance for the Start of School: 150-Euro Vouchers for Children at Risk of Poverty

"The 'School Start Ready!' project supports families at risk of poverty with school children in preparing for the start of the school year. This crucial support is a personal concern of mine. It targets those who need it most urgently, making it a real contribution in the fight against child poverty," emphasizes Social Minister Korinna Schumann.

Voucher Available as an App on Smartphone for the First Time

New this year is that the voucher distribution is enabled digitally for the first time via the "School Start" app. Those eligible can conveniently download and digitally activate the voucher. If needed, for example for families without a smartphone, 45 collection points will still be available from August 4 to September 12 for receiving physical vouchers. The dispatch of notification letters (including activation code) will begin on July 25, 2025, and the vouchers can be redeemed until October 31, 2025.

The "School Start Ready!" Initiative Has Been Effective Since 2015

Since 2015, the Ministry of Social Affairs has been supporting the start of the school year. Since 2022, vouchers for purchasing school supplies have been distributed. With a total budget of around 18 million euros, the initiative is financed within the framework of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and supplemented with funds from the Ministry of Social Affairs. The goal is to help families at risk of poverty and to combat child poverty in the long term. The "School Start Ready!" initiative has proven to be very successful: last year, around 95 percent of eligible families used the vouchers, of which around 99 percent were also redeemed. The initiative is once again being implemented this year with Volkshilfe Solidarity and partner organizations. Erich Fenninger, Federal Managing Director of Volkshilfe Austria, points out how important the initiative is for families: "We are looking forward to the start of the initiative because we know from previous years how precisely the support helps where help is needed at the start of the school year."

Facts About the School Start Ready! Initiative 2025:

- Eligible: all students in social welfare or minimum security households (reference month June) - estimated around 52,500

- Voucher amount: 150 euros per student, valid exclusively for school supplies in LIBRO and PAGRO DISKONT stores

- Notification letter: Dispatch by the federal states will begin on July 25 and continue until early August 2025.

- Digital redemption period: July 28 to October 31, 2025 - Vouchers can be activated in the "Schulstart" app.

- Redemption period: July 28 to October 31, 2025 nationwide in all LIBRO and PAGRO DISKONT stores

- Physical collection period: August 4 to September 12, 2025 - Vouchers can be collected at 45 pickup points of Volkshilfe Solidarität and partner organizations.

Further information about the campaign is now available in 8 languages - German, English, Arabic, Dari/Farsi, Russian, Serbian, French, and Turkish - at schulstart.gv.at.

(Red)

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